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Background: Outcome after colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) resection has improved over time, despite increased resection rates. Hence, it's crucial to identify all patients possible to treat with curative intent. The objectives of this study were to map recurrence pattern, treatment strategy and survival depending on treatment and follow-up strategy.Methods: In the COLOFOL-trial, patients with radically resected stage II-III colorectal cancer were randomized to high-frequency (6, 12, 18, 24 and 36 months; HF) or low-frequency (12 and 36 months; LF) follow-up. In this study, all CRLM within 5 years were identified and medical files scrutinized. Overall survival (OS) was analysed in uni- and multivariable analyses. Primary endpoint was 5-year OS.Results: Of 2442 patients, 235 (9.6%) developed metachronous CRLM of which 123 (52.3%) underwent treatment with curative intent, resulting in 5-year OS of 58%. Five-year OS for patients with CRLM was 43% after HF versus 24% after LF. The survival benefit was confirmed for HF 8 years from resection of the primary tumour, HR 0.63 (CI 0.46-0.85).Conclusion: A high proportion of metachronous CRLM was possible to treat with curative intent, yielding high survival rates. More intense follow-up after colorectal cancer resection might be of value in high-risk patients. Background: Outcome after colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) resection has improved over time, despite increased resection rates. Hence, it's crucial to identify all patients possible to treat with curative intent. The objectives of this study were to map recurrence pattern, treatment strategy and survival depending on treatment and follow-up strategy.Methods: In the COLOFOL-trial, patients with radically resected stage II-III colorectal cancer were randomized to high-frequency (6, 12, 18, 24 and 36 months; HF) or low-frequency (12 and 36 months; LF) follow-up. In this study, all CRLM within 5 years were identified and medical files scrutinized. Overall survival (OS) was analysed in uni- and multivariable analyses. Primary endpoint was 5-year OS.Results: Of 2442 patients, 235 (9.6%) developed metachronous CRLM of which 123 (52.3%) underwent treatment with curative intent, resulting in 5-year OS of 58%. Five-year OS for patients with CRLM was 43% after HF versus 24% after LF. The survival benefit was confirmed for HF 8 years from resection of the primary tumour, HR 0.63 (CI 0.46-0.85).Conclusion: A high proportion of metachronous CRLM was possible to treat with curative intent, yielding high survival rates. More intense follow-up after colorectal cancer resection might be of value in high-risk patients.

Acute mesenteric venous thrombosis causes impaired mesenteric blood supply which may lead to bowel infarction and, in a longer perspective, severe portal hypertension. Early diagnosis, immediate anticoagulation, and active expectancy are critical for the outcome. The patients should be evaluated and treated in a multidisciplinary context, involving gastroenterologists, interventional radiologists, vascular and colorectal surgeons, and consultants in clinical coagulation. Percutaneous thrombectomy, including transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS), should be considered in cases with imminent bowel necrosis despite adequate anticoagulation, but can also serve as a complement to surgery. Here we provide a clinical overview of acute mesenteric venous thrombosis, exemplified with authentic patient cases, especially discussing the role for interventional radiology.

Background: Colorectal signet ring cell (SRC) carcinoma with ≥50% SRCs (SRC ≥ 50) has a poor prognosis, but the prognostic role of SRCs < 50% (SRC < 50) is unclear. The aim of this study was to provide a clinicopathological characterization of SRC colorectal and appendiceal tumours and analyse the importance of the SRC component size. Methods: All patients in the Swedish Colorectal Cancer Registry diagnosed with colorectal or appendiceal cancer in 2009–2020 at Uppsala University Hospital, Sweden, were included. The SRCs were verified, and the components estimated by a gastrointestinal pathologist. Results: Of the 2229 colorectal cancers, 51 (2.3%) had SRCs, with a median component size of 30% (interquartile range of 12.5–40) and 10 (0.45%) had SRC ≥ 50. The SRC tumours were primarily localized in the right colon (59%) and appendix (16%). No patients with SRCs had stage I disease, and 26 (51%) had stage IV, of whom, 18 (69%) had peritoneal metastases. The SRC tumours were often high grade with perineural and vascular invasion. The 5-year overall survival (OS) rate for patients with SRC ≥ 50 were 20% (95% confidence interval (CI) 6–70), for SRC < 50, 39% (95% CI 24–61); and for non-SRCs, 55% (95% CI 55–60). Among the patients with SRC < 50 and Simple Summary Signet ring cell (SRC) carcinoma of colorectal and appendiceal cancer is rare but is recognized as the histopathological subtype with the poorest prognosis. However, the prognostic relevance of a SRC component

Mucinous rectal cancers are generally associated with poor prognosis. This study aimed to clinically characterize mucinous rectal cancers in a defined region of Sweden.All patients with rectal cancer in Uppsala and Dalarna, Sweden, between 2010 and 2018, were identified using the Swedish Colorectal Cancer Registry. Data were verified and updated by way of medical, radiology, and histopathology reports. Patients were selected if magnetic resonance imaging, biopsy, and/or surgical specimen were mucinous. Primary outcomes were overall survival (OS), time to recurrence (TTR), pattern of metastatization, and downstaging. Risk factors for recurrence were analysed with univariable and multivariable analyses.Of 1220 patients with rectal cancer, 263 (22 per cent) had a mucinous specimen, median (interquartile range; i.q.r.) age was 71 (63-77) years, and 152 (58 per cent) were men. Most were localized in the low-middle rectum (76 per cent) and were stage III (53 per cent), or stage IV (28 per cent). The 5-year OS was 55 per cent (95 per cent c.i. 49 to 62); after total mesorectal excision (n = 164), 5-year OS was 75 per cent (95 per cent c.i. 68 to 83), and 5-year TTR was 68 per cent (95 per cent c.i. 60 to 77). In those with complete response (pCR), pStage I, pStage II, and pStage III, 5-year TTR was 93 per cent, 85 per cent, 74 per cent, and 44 per cent respectively. Synchronous metastasis was most common in the liver (64 per cent) and metachronous in the lungs (58 per cent). pCR was achieved in 14 patients, (13 per cent); whereas T and N category downstaging was achieved in 31 (28 per cent) and 67 patients (61 per cent) respectively. Perineural invasion had the strongest association with recurrence (hazard ratio 6.34, 95 per cent c.i. 2.50 to 16.10).Mucinous rectal cancers have high recurrence rates, but pCR rate is more than 10 per cent. Perineural invasion is the main feature associated with recurrence.

Background Patients with colorectal cancer were examined to determine (1) whether elevated carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels, either before treatment or after surgery, was associated with an increased risk of overall or colorectal cancer-specific mortality or recurrence, and (2) whether high intensity follow-up would benefit those patients. Materials and methods Post-hoc analysis based on 2509 patients that underwent surgery for colorectal cancer, stage II or III, in the COLOFOL randomized trial with 5-year follow-up. Serum CEA levels were ascertained before treatment and one month after surgery. Follow-up examinations included computed tomography of the thorax and abdomen and serum CEA sampling. Patients were randomized to examinations at either 6, 12, 18, 24, and 36 months (high-intensity group) or at 12 and 36 months after surgery (low-intensity group). Levels of CEA >5 μg/l were defined as elevated. Results Elevated CEA levels before treatment were associated with increased risk of recurrence (hazard ratio [HR], 1.49; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.22–1.83), colorectal cancer-specific mortality (HR, 1.44; 95% CI: 1.08–1.91), and overall mortality (HR, 1.38; 95% CI: 1.07–1.78). Elevated CEA levels after surgery were associated with increased colorectal cancer-specific mortality (HR, 1.68; 95% CI: 1.08–2.61) and overall mortality (HR, 1.79; 95% CI: 1.22–2.63). The intensity of the follow-up regimen had no effect on 5-year outcomes in patients with elevated CEA levels. Conclusion Both pre-treatment and post-surgery elevated serum CEA levels were associated with increased overall and cancer-specific mortality. Intensified follow-up showed no benefit over low-intensity follow-up in this high-risk group of patients with elevated CEA levels.

Importance Perforated colonic diverticulitis usually requires surgical resection, with significant morbidity. Short-term results from randomized clinical trials have indicated that laparoscopic lavage is a feasible alternative to resection. However, it appears that no long-term results are available. Objective To compare long-term (5-year) outcomes of laparoscopic peritoneal lavage and primary resection as treatments of perforated purulent diverticulitis. Design, Setting, and Participants This international multicenter randomized clinical trial was conducted in 21 hospitals in Sweden and Norway, which enrolled patients between February 2010 and June 2014. Long-term follow-up was conducted between March 2018 and November 2019. Patients with symptoms of left-sided acute perforated diverticulitis, indicating urgent surgical need and computed tomography-verified free air, were eligible. Those available for trial intervention (Hinchey stages

Modern treatment of rectal cancer comprises the use of radiotherapy where four main aspects have to be taken in consideration, not only by the surgeon, but also by the entire multidisciplinary treatment team (MDT-board).

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. The last decades improvement in survival in all stages of the disease has been achieved. Many factors contributes to this improvement; earlier diagnosis, better pre-operative staging, neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy, better surgical method and approach, introduction of pre- and post-operative multidisciplinary team conferences and adjuvant chemotherapy. Currently, new modalities are developing; robotics and organ preserving through wait-and-watch will give colorectal surgeons even more treatment options. This article highlights important aspects of colorectal cancer management now and in the future.

Background A randomized study in 1999–2005 of mechanical bowel preparation (MBP) preceding colonic resection found no decrease in postoperative complications. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the long-term effect of MBP regarding cancer recurrence and survival after colonic resections. Methods The cohort of patients with colonic cancer in the MBP study was followed up for 10 years. Data were collected from registers run by the National Board of Health and Welfare. Register data were validated against information in patient charts. Cox proportional hazards model was used for multivariable analysis of factors predictive of cancer-specific survival. Results Register analysis showed significantly fewer recurrences, and better cancer-specific and overall survival in the MBP group. After validation, 839 of 1343 patients remained for analysis (448 MBP, 391 no MBP). Eighty (17·9 per cent) of 448 patients in the MBP group and 88 (22·5 per cent) of 391 in the no-MBP group developed a cancer recurrence (P = 0·093). The 10-year cancer-specific survival rate was 84·1 per cent in the MBP group and 78·0 per cent in the no-MBP group (P = 0·019). Overall survival rates were 58·8 and 56·0 per cent respectively (P = 0·186). Conclusion Patients receiving MBP before elective colonic cancer surgery had significantly better cancer-specific survival after 10 years.

SUMMARY The treatment philosophy for rectal cancer has changed a lot during the last three decades. In the 1970s it was more or less a pure surgical business and rectal cancer was considered radiation resistant. Owing to the unacceptable high local recurrence rates, surgery was changed (the total mesorectal excision technique) during the 1980s and treatment was, in many countries, concentrated to lager units. Moreover, the addition of adjuvant radiotherapy was tested during the same period in several randomized trials and demonstrated that the local recurrence rate could be reduced by 50%, provided the radiation dose was high enough. Since then, treatment has changed very rapidly with several interesting approaches, such as timing and type of radiotherapy, the place of chemotherapy, surgery with modern technique including laparoscopy; natural orifice transendoscopic surgery or robotics; and the whole idea of ‘wait-and-watch’ program. All of these new aspects are covered and discussed in the view of the standard-of-care in 2014.

Aim Perineal wound sepsis is a common problem after abdominoperineal resection of the rectum (APR), with a reported incidence of 10–15% in previously non-irradiated patients, 20–30% in patients given preoperative radiation and 50% among patients submitted to preoperative radiation combined with chemotherapy. The local application of gentamicin–collagen was evaluated to determine whether its use in the perineal wound reduced risk complications and had an effect on cancer recurrence. Method In this prospective multicentre (seven hospitals) randomized controlled trial, 102 patients undergoing APR due to cancer or benign disease were randomized into two groups including surgery with gentamicin–collagen (GS+, n = 52) or surgery without gentamicin–collagen (GS−, n = 50). Patients were followed at 7, 30 and 90 days and at 1 and 5 years. Results There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups regarding perineal wound complications, infectious or non-infectious, or cancer recurrence. Conclusion There was no statistically significant effect on perineal wound complications or cancer recurrence following the local administration of gentamicin–collagen during APR.

Background Recent randomized trials demonstrated that laparoscopic lavage compared with resection for Hinchey III perforated diverticulitis was associated with similar mortality, less stoma formation but a higher rate of early reintervention. The aim of this study was to compare 1-year outcomes in patients who participated in the randomized Scandinavian Diverticulitis (SCANDIV) trial. Methods Between February 2010 and June 2014, patients from 21 hospitals in Norway and Sweden presenting with suspected perforated diverticulitis were enrolled in a multicentre RCT comparing laparoscopic lavage and sigmoid resection. All patients with perforated diverticulitis confirmed during surgery were included in a modified intention-to-treat analysis of 1-year results. Results Of 199 enrolled patients, 101 were assigned randomly to laparoscopic lavage and 98 to colonic resection. Perforated diverticulitis was confirmed at the time of surgery in 89 and 83 patients respectively. Within 1 year after surgery, neither severe complications (34 versus 27 per cent; P = 0·323) nor disease-related mortality (12 versus 11 per cent) differed significantly between the lavage and surgery groups. Among the 144 patients with purulent peritonitis, the rate of severe complications (27 per cent (20 of 74) versus 21 per cent (15 of 70) respectively; P = 0·445) and disease-related mortality (8 versus 9 per cent) were similar. Laparoscopic lavage was associated with more deep surgical-site infections (32 versus 13 per cent; P = 0·006) but fewer superficial surgical-site infections (1 versus 17 per cent; P = 0·001). More patients in the lavage group underwent unplanned reoperations (27 versus 10 per cent; P = 0·010). Including stoma reversals, a similar proportion of patients required a secondary operation (28 versus 29 per cent). The stoma rate at 1 year was lower in the lavage group (14 versus 42 per cent in the resection group; P < 0·001); however, the Cleveland Global Quality of Life score did not differ between groups. Conclusion The advantages of laparoscopic lavage should be weighed against the risk of secondary intervention (if sepsis is unresolved). Assessment to exclude malignancy (although uncommon) is advised. Registration number: NCT01047462 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov).

The aim of this study was to present detailed population-based survival estimates for patients with a rectal adenocarcinoma, using cancer register data supplemented with clinical data. Based on cancer register data, differences in rectal cancer survival have been reported between countries in Europe. Variation in the distribution of stage at diagnosis, initial therapy including surgical technique, and comorbidity are possible explanatory factors. Adenocarcinomas in the rectum, diagnosed in 1997 and identified in the national cancer registries in the Nordic countries and Scotland were included. Age standardized 5-year relative survival and multiplicative regression models for the relative excess mortality were calculated. 3888 patients were included in the survival study. Men in Denmark, Finland and Iceland had lower 5-year relative survival and poorer stage distribution compared to Norway, Sweden and Scotland. Danish men had the highest rate of excess deaths in the first six months after diagnosis. Stage adjusted, the elevated relative excess mortality decreased and after six months the excess mortality rates were the same in all countries. The poor 5-year relative survival in Danish men was mainly due to a high excess rate of death during the first six months after diagnosis. The low survival in Finland and Iceland was not in accordance with other periods. For both countries this may be explained by random variation due to small numbers. The study emphasizes the need for high quality and detailed data in order to understand international survival differences, and cautions comparisons between large national samples and those of smaller areas.

IMPORTANCE Perforated colonic diverticulitis usually requires surgical resection, which is associated with significant morbidity. Cohort studies have suggested that laparoscopic lavage may treat perforated diverticulitis with less morbidity than resection procedures. OBJECTIVE To compare the outcomes from laparoscopic lavage with those for colon resection for perforated diverticulitis. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Multicenter, randomized clinical superiority trial recruiting participants from 21 centers in Sweden and Norway from February 2010 to June 2014. The last patient follow-up was in December 2014 and final review and verification of the medical records was assessed in March 2015. Patients with suspected perforated diverticulitis, a clinical indication for emergency surgery, and free air on an abdominal computed tomography scan were eligible. Of 509 patients screened, 415 were eligible and 199 were enrolled. INTERVENTIONS Patients were assigned to undergo laparoscopic peritoneal lavage (n = 101) or colon resection (n = 98) based on a computer-generated, center-stratified block randomization. All patients with fecal peritonitis (15 patients in the laparoscopic peritoneal lavage group vs 13 in the colon resection group) underwent colon resection. Patients with a pathology requiring treatment beyond that necessary for perforated diverticulitis (12 in the laparoscopic lavage group vs 13 in the colon resection group) were also excluded from the protocol operations and treated as required for the pathology encountered. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was severe postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo score greater thanIlla) within 90 days. Secondary outcomes included other postoperative complications, reoperations, length of operating time, length of postoperative hospital stay, and quality of life. RESULTS The primary outcome was observed in 31 of 101 patients (30.7%) in the laparoscopic lavage group and 25 of 96 patients (26.0%) in the colon resection group (difference, 4.7% [95% CI, -7.9% to 17.0%]; P = .53). Mortality at 90 days did not significantly differ between the laparoscopic lavage group (14 patients [13.9%]) and the colon resection group (11 patients [11.5%]; difference, 2.4% [95% CI, -7.2% to 11.9%]; P = .67). The reoperation rate was significantly higher in the laparoscopic lavage group (15 of 74 patients [20.3%]) than in the colon resection group (4 of 70 patients [5.7%]; difference, 14.6% [95% CI, 3.5% to 25.6%]; P = .01) for patients who did not have fecal peritonitis. The length of operating time was significantly shorter in the laparoscopic lavage group; whereas, length of postoperative hospital stay and quality of life did not differ significantly between groups. Four sigmoid carcinomas were missed with laparoscopic lavage. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Among patients with likely perforated diverticulitis and undergoing emergency surgery, the use of laparoscopic lavage vs primary resection did not reduce severe postoperative complications and led to worse outcomes in secondary end points. These findings do not support laparoscopic lavage for treatment of perforated diverticulitis.

A considerable proportion of stoma patients are disabled for various reasons and are elderly. To be able to dress their stoma themselves is of crucial importance for their integrity and social life. This study evaluates a novel stomal dressing system based on a magnetic connector--the Easy-X system.Twenty patients (8 women, mean age of 40-89 years) with a well-functioning colostomy tested the Easy-X system for 6 weeks. The system was judged by the patients using a multiple choice scale, and by the stoma nurses using a 10-grade VAS.Eighteen of 20 patients completed the trial. Ten patients rated the Easy-X as better than their ordinary system, 3 as equal to and 4 deemed it inferior. Despite this, only three were prepared to change to the Easy-X system. Eleven of 18 patients experienced discomfort with the new adhesive plate. Three patients suffered leakage less often and five patients more often than with their ordinary system. Stoma nurse ratings were available for 14 patients. Their evaluation of the magnetic connector in the Easy-X system was positive in eight cases, neutral in one case and negative in three cases. Global impression ratings were 3 positive, 3 negative and 5 neutral.The Easy-X system showed potential advantages over conventional stomal dressing systems, but the system must be improved in terms of a varied assortment of dressing products enabling individual fitting before a larger trial can be carried out on disabled patients. Furthermore, the increased use of metal has to be handled with an ecologic recycling system. WHAT IS NEW IN THIS PAPER: A new stomal dressing system with a magnetic connector has potential advantages over conventional stomal dressings for disabled persons.

Aim Total mesorectal excision with preoperative radiotherapy reduces local recurrence in rectal cancer, but radiotherapy increases the risk of complications. This study compared the immediate postoperative outcome after external beam radiotherapy with outome after high-dose-rate endorectal brachytherapy (HDREBT). Method Patients (n = 318) treated with preoperative HDREBT (6.5 Gy, daily, over 4 days) followed by surgery 4–8 weeks later were matched with 318 patients from the Swedish Rectal Cancer Register treated with short-course radiotherapy (SCRT; 5 Gy, daily, over 5 days) and surgery in the subsequent week and with 318 patients who had surgery only (i.e. no preoperative radiotherapy; RT-) All 954 patients were followed for 30 days after surgery. Complications were divided into surgical, cardiovascular and infectious. Results The SCRT group had fewer cardiovascular complications (3.1%) than did HDREBT (9.4%, P = 0.002) and RT- (7.2%, P = 0.03) groups. There was less perioperative bleeding in HDREBT patients (379.3 ml) than in SCRT (947.2 ml; P

BackgroundThe association between diverting stomas and symptomatic anastomotic leakage after rectal cancer surgery was studied, as well as the impact of leakage on local recurrence, distant metastasis, and disease-free, overall and cancer-specific survival.MethodsData from the Swedish Rectal Cancer Trial, Dutch TME trial, CAO/ARO/AIO-94 trial, EORTC 22921 trial and Polish Rectal Cancer Trial were pooled (n = 5187). All eligible patients without distant metastases at the time of low anterior resection were selected (n = 2726); overall survival was studied in patients aged 75 years or less (n = 2480). Multivariable models were used to study the association between diverting stomas and anastomotic leakage, and between leakage and recurrence or survival.ResultsSome 9·7 per cent of patients were diagnosed with a symptomatic anastomotic leak; diverting stomas were negatively associated with leakage (11·6 per cent without and 7·8 per cent with a stoma; P = 0·002). Anastomotic leakage was negatively associated with overall survival in the multivariable analysis (hazard ratio (HR) 1·29 (95 per cent confidence interval 1·02 to 1·63); P = 0·034), but not with cancer-specific survival (HR 1·12 (0·83 to 1·52); P = 0·466).ConclusionDiverting stomas were associated with less symptomatic anastomotic leakage. Oncological outcome was not significantly influenced by leakage, but overall survival was reduced.

International audience; PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to identify factors associated with the decision to perform an abdominoperineal resection (APR) and to assess if these factors or the surgical procedure itself is associated with circumferential resection margin (CRM) involvement, local recurrence (LR), overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The Swedish Rectal Cancer Trial (SRCT), TME trial, CAO/ARO/AIO-94 trial, EORTC 22921 trial and Polish Rectal Cancer Trial (PRCT) were pooled. A propensity score was calculated, which indicated the predicted probability of undergoing an APR given gender, age and distance, and used in the multivariate analyses. RESULTS: An APR procedure was associated with an increased risk of CRM involvement [odd ratio (OR) 2.52, p

Background The aim was to determine long-term survival and recurrence rates after local excision of rectal cancer from a prospectively registered population-based database. Methods Swedish Rectal Cancer Registry data from 1995 to 2001, including 10 181 patients of whom 643 (6·3 per cent) had a local excision, were analysed. Complete 5-year follow-up data from 1995 to 1998 were available. Cumulative relative and cancer-specific survival rates, and rates of local recurrence and distant metastases, were calculated by actuarial methods. Results The 5-year cancer-specific survival rate for 256 patients with stage I disease who had local excision was 95·3 (95 per cent confidence interval 91·5 to 99·1) per cent. The 5-year local recurrence rate was 7·2 per cent. After adjustment for age, sex, tumour stage and preoperative radiotherapy, the relative risk of death from cancer was the same as that after major resection. Conclusion Population-based results after local excision of rectal cancer are the same as those reported in controlled series for early-stage tumours after abdominal resection. A low relative survival and a high median age indicate the use of local excision in patients with a high level of co-morbidity. To achieve acceptable long-term results, optimal preoperative and postoperative staging is needed.

Purpose To evaluate the long-term effects on survival and recurrence rates of preoperative radiotherapy in the treatment of curatively operated rectal cancer patients. Patients and Methods Of 1,168 randomly assigned patients in the Swedish Rectal Cancer Trial between 1987 and 1990, 908 had curative surgery; 454 of these patients had surgery alone, and 454 were administered preoperative radiotherapy (25 Gy in 5 days) followed by surgery within 1 week. Follow-up was performed by matching against three Swedish nationwide registries (the Swedish Cancer Register, the Hospital Discharge Register, and the Cause of Death Register). Results Median follow-up time was 13 years (range, 3 to 15 years). The overall survival rate in the irradiated group was 38% v 30% in the nonirradiated group (P = .008). The cancer-specific survival rate in the irradiated group was 72% v 62% in the nonirradiated group (P = .03), and the local recurrence rate was 9% v 26% (P < .001), respectively. The reduction of local recurrence rates was observed at all tumor heights, although it was not statistically significant for tumors greater than 10 cm from the anal verge. Conclusion Preoperative radiotherapy with 25 Gy in 1 week before curative surgery for rectal cancer is beneficial for overall and cancer-specific survival and local recurrence rates after long-term follow-up.

To investigate the relation between the type of circular stapler and anastomotic leak in rectal cancer surgery.During the past decades results from rectal cancer surgery have improved considerably regarding risk of local recurrence and survival. Two main paradigm changes are considered to be the cause for this: the introduction of total mesorectal excision (TME) and the increasing use of radiotherapy. However, rectal cancer surgery is associated with an unacceptably high frequency of complications of which anastomotic leak is one of the most severe ones. The hypothesis was raised that the choice of stapler influenced the leakage rates.A questionnaire was sent to all departments of surgery (n = 66) performing rectal cancer surgery in Sweden to determine the choice of circular stapler when performing anterior resection for rectal cancer. These data were linked to the Swedish Rectal Cancer Registry for the period 1995-99.A total of 3316 patients had an anterior resection. The choice of circular stapling device was determined in 70% of the cases. When stapler A was used, the leakage rate was 11% whereas it was 7% when stapler B was used (P = 0.0039). In the cases where it was impossible to determine which stapler had been used the leakage rate was 8%.Quality control is an important part of medicine and the present study suggests that it also must include surgical instruments. A prospective randomised study is needed to confirm the results.

Population-based study of local surgery for rectal cancer : (Br J Surg 2007; 94: 1421-1426) - Reply