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Postoperative urinary retention (POUR) is a known morbidity after colorectal surgery. This study investigated the effect of prophylactic tamsulosin on urinary retention rates after colorectal surgery. A retrospective cohort study of male patients 50 years or older undergoing elective colonic and rectal resections from May 2014 to November 2019 was performed. The intervention assessed was prophylactic tamsulosin use. POUR, defined by requiring intermittent or reinsertion of urinary catheter, was compared using chi-squared analysis. A total of 332 patients were included, 131 received no tamsulosin, and 201 received prophylactic tamsulosin. Overall POUR was significantly reduced (16.8% vs. 9.5%, p = 0.047). Subgroup analysis for age 50–59 revealed no difference (9.1% vs. 9.4%, p = 0.96), but POUR risk was significantly lower in age 60 and older (20.7% vs. 9.5%, p = 0.02). No significant difference was found in rectal resections alone (18.2% vs. 13.2%, p = 0.34). Prophylactic tamsulosin reduced POUR after colorectal surgery with the greatest effect in men 60 years or older and colonic resections.

Summary Surgical site infections (SSI) pose significant morbidity after colorectal surgery. We sought to document current practices in colorectal surgery SSI prevention in British Columbia (BC). Reporting the current provincial landscape on SSI prevention helps to understand the foundation upon which improvements can take place. We surveyed all BC surgeons performing elective colon and rectal resections, and 97 surveys were completed (60% response rate). Eighty-six per cent of respondent hospitals tracked SSI rates. The reported superficial SSI was less than 5% and the anastomotic leak/organ space rate was less than 10%. All respondents gave preoperative prophylactic antibiotics, with 24% continuing antibiotics postoperatively; 62% are using oral antibiotics (OAB) and mechanical bowel preparation (MBP) and 29% use MBP without OAB. Areas for improvement include OAB with MBP and discontinuing prophylactic antibiotics postoperatively, as recommended by the World Health Organization.

Discrepancy between patient expectations and outcomes can negatively affect patient satisfaction and quality of life. We aimed to assess patient expectations of bowel, urinary, and sexual function after rectal cancer treatments, and whether a preoperative education video changed expectations.A total of 45 patients were assessed between January 2018 and January 2021 in a tertiary care hospital in Vancouver, Canada. Patients included were rectal cancer patients who had neoadjuvant chemoradiation and were listed for low anterior resection but had not yet had surgery. Following surgical consultation but before surgery, a questionnaire assessing expectations of lifestyle after treatments was administered. Patients then watched an educational video and repeated the questionnaire to assess for changes in expectations.Patient scores indicated expectation that control of bowel movements, urination, and sexual function would sometimes be problematic, but had a range from occasionally problematic to good function. Significant change after the video was seen in the expectation of needing medications for bowel control, and 44%-69% of individual patient answers changed from prevideo to post-video, depending on the question. The education video was scored as helpful or very helpful by 82% of patients.Patients have varying expectations of problematic control of bowel, urinary, and sexual function following rectal cancer treatments. A pretreatment education video resulted in a trend toward changed expectations for functional outcomes in most patients. Further educational modalities for patients may provide more uniform expectations of function and increase patient satisfaction after rectal cancer treatments.

Postoperative urinary retention (POUR) is a known morbidity after colorectal surgery. This study investigated the effect of prophylactic tamsulosin on urinary retention rates after colorectal surgery.A retrospective cohort study of male patients 50 years or older undergoing elective colonic and rectal resections from May 2014 to November 2019 was performed. The intervention assessed was prophylactic tamsulosin use. POUR, defined by requiring intermittent or reinsertion of urinary catheter, was compared using chi-squared analysis.A total of 332 patients were included, 131 received no tamsulosin, and 201 received prophylactic tamsulosin. Overall POUR was significantly reduced (16.8% vs. 9.5%, p = 0.047). Subgroup analysis for age 50-59 revealed no difference (9.1% vs. 9.4%, p = 0.96), but POUR risk was significantly lower in age 60 and older (20.7% vs. 9.5%, p = 0.02). No significant difference was found in rectal resections alone (18.2% vs. 13.2%, p = 0.34).Prophylactic tamsulosin reduced POUR after colorectal surgery with the greatest effect in men 60 years or older and colonic resections.

Summary Surgical resection followed by adjuvant chemotherapy is the standard of care for patients with stage III colon cancer. To shorten the time interval between surgery and chemotherapy in patients with colon cancer, we instituted a standardized referral pathway. Evaluation of the intervention demonstrated that referring our patients with colon cancer to a medical oncologist earlier in the treatment process increased the number of patients in whom chemotherapy was initiated within 8 weeks compared with historical controls. These results support early medical oncology referral at institutions where delays in adjuvant chemotherapy initiation exist.

Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) is the treatment of choice for benign rectal tumors and select early rectal cancers. This surgical approach has become ubiquitous and surgeons are seeing recurrent lesions after TEM resection. This study aims to outline the safety and outcomes of repeat TEM when compared to primary TEM procedures. At St. Paul’s Hospital, demographic, surgical, pathologic, and follow-up data for patients treated by TEM are maintained in a prospectively populated database. Two groups were established for comparison: patients undergoing first TEM procedure (TEM-P) and patients undergoing repeat TEM procedure (TEM-R). Between 2007 and 2017, 669 patients had their first TEM procedure. Over this time frame, 57 of these patients required repeat TEM procedures, including 15 of these patients treated by 3 or more TEMs. Indications for repeat TEM included recurrence (78%), positive margins (15%), and metachronous lesions (7%). There were no differences between the groups in patient age, gender, or tumor histology. Compared to TEM-P, TEM-R had shorter operative times (38 vs. 52 min, p

Importance: The incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer (younger than 50 years) is rising globally, the reasons for which are unclear. It appears to represent a unique disease process with different clinical, pathological, and molecular characteristics compared with late-onset colorectal cancer. Data on oncological outcomes are limited, and sensitivity to conventional neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapy regimens appear to be unknown. The purpose of this review is to summarize the available literature on early-onset colorectal cancer.Observations: Within the next decade, it is estimated that 1 in 10 colon cancers and 1 in 4 rectal cancers will be diagnosed in adults younger than 50 years. Potential risk factors include a Westernized diet, obesity, antibiotic usage, and alterations in the gut microbiome. Although genetic predisposition plays a role, most cases are sporadic. The full spectrum of germline and somatic sequence variations implicated remains unknown. Younger patients typically present with descending colonic or rectal cancer, advanced disease stage, and unfavorable histopathological features. Despite being more likely to receive neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapy, patients with early-onset disease demonstrate comparable oncological outcomes with their older counterparts.Conclusions and Relevance: The clinicopathological features, underlying molecular profiles, and drivers of early-onset colorectal cancer differ from those of late-onset disease. Standardized, age-specific preventive, screening, diagnostic, and therapeutic strategies are required to optimize outcomes.

Background Single-stage repair of incisional hernias in contaminated fields has a high rate of surgical site infection (30–42%) when biologic grafts are used for repair. In an attempt to decrease this risk, a novel graft incorporating gentamicin into a biologic extracellular matrix derived from porcine small intestine submucosa was developed. Methods This prospective, multicenter, single-arm observational study was designed to determine the incidence of surgical site infection following implantation of the device into surgical fields characterized as CDC Class II, III, or IV. Results Twenty-four patients were enrolled, with 42% contaminated and 25% dirty surgical fields. After 12 months, 5 patients experienced 6 surgical site infections (21%) with infection involving the graft in 2 patients (8%). No grafts were explanted. Conclusions The incorporation of gentamicin into a porcine-derived biologic graft can be achieved with no noted gentamicin toxicity and a low rate of device infection for patients undergoing single-stage repair of ventral hernia in contaminated settings. Trial registration The study was registered March 27, 2015 at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02401334.

In patients treated by transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM), breach of the peritoneal cavity is a feared intraoperative challenge. Our aim is to analyze predictors and short-term outcomes of patients with peritoneal perforation (TEM-P) when compared to similar patients with no peritoneal compromise (TEM-N). At St. Paul’s Hospital, demographic, surgical, pathologic, and follow-up data for all patients treated by TEM is maintained in a prospectively populated database. A retrospective review was performed and two groups were established for comparison: TEM-P and TEM-N. Statistical analysis was performed using student’s t or chi-squared test, where appropriate. Of 619 patients treated by TEM between 2007 and 2016, 39 (6%) patients were in the TEM-P group and 580 (94%) in the TEM-N group. There were no differences between the groups in patient age, gender, histology, or tumor size. Patients who had peritoneal perforations had more proximal lesions (11 vs. 7 cm, p

Background: Alpha-1 adrenergic blockers used to treat postoperative urinary retention (POUR) may also have a preventative role. Here we assess the evidence behind their prophylactic use on POUR prevention. Study design: PRISMA guidelines were followed. All studies reviewed for eligibility, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment. Pooled risk ratios with 95% confidence intervals calculated using a random effects model. Heterogeneity assessed using Forest plots, I2 statistic and Chi-squared Cochran's Q-statistic. Results: Fifteen RCTs (1732 patients) included. Prophylactic alpha-1 adrenergic blockers significantly reduced risk of POUR, 13.16% vs 30.24%, RR = 0.48 (95%CI: 0.33; 0.70, p-value =.001), without a statistically significant increase in adverse events. Substantial heterogeneity found between included studies (I2 = 65.49% [95%CI:48.49; 95.01] & Q-statistic 43.46 (p-value

Because small colonic tumours may not be visualized or palpated during laparoscopy, location of the lesion must be identified before surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the current recommendation of endoscopic tattooing of lesions prior to laparoscopic colonic resections.All consecutive patients who underwent elective laparoscopic resection for a colonic lesion at a single tertiary institution between 2013 and 2015 were identified for chart review.In total, 224 patients underwent laparoscopic resection for a benign or malignant colonic lesion during the study period. All patients had a complete colonoscopy preoperatively. In all, 148 patients (66%) had their lesion tattooed at endoscopy. Most lesions were tattooed distally, but 15% were tattooed either proximally, both proximally and distally, or tattooed without specifying location as proximal or distal. Tattoo localization was accurate in 69% of cases. Tattooed lesions were not visible during surgery 21.5% of time; 2 cases were converted to open surgery to identify the lesion. Inaccuracy in endoscopic localization led to change in surgical plan in 16% of surgeries. In the nontattooed group, 1 case was converted to open surgery to localize the lesion, 3 required intraoperative colonoscopy and 1 had positive margins on final pathology.To improve surgical planning, we recommend the practice of endoscopic tattooing of all colon lesions at a location just distal to the lesion using multiple injections to cover the circumference of the bowel wall.Comme il n'est pas toujours possible de voir ou de palper les petites tumeurs du côlon durant la laparoscopie, le siège de la lésion doit être localisé avant la chirurgie. Le but de cette étude était d'évaluer l'efficacité de la recommandation actuelle, qui consiste à tatouer les lésions au cours de l'endoscopie, avant les colectomies laparoscopiques.Nous avons recensé tous les patients consécutifs ayant subi une résection laparoscopique non urgente d'une lésion du côlon dans un même établissement de soins tertiaires entre 2013 et 2015 afin d'analyser leurs dossiers.En tout, 224 patients ont subi la résection laparoscopique d'une lésion bénigne ou maligne du côlon durant la période visée. Tous les patients ont passé une coloscopie totale avant la chirurgie. Le tatouage endoscopique de la lésion a été effectué pour 148 patients (66 %). La plupart des lésions ont été tatouées au point distal, mais 15 % l'ont été soit au point proximal, soit au point proximal et au point distal, soit sans précision quant à l'emplacement. La localisation par tatouage était exacte dans 69 % des cas. Les lésions tatouées n'étaient pas visibles durant la chirurgie dans 21,5 % des cas; 2 cas ont été convertis en chirurgies effractives afin qu'on puisse repérer la lésion. L'inexactitude de la localisation endoscopique a entraîné la modification du plan chirurgical dans 16 % des chirurgies. Dans le groupe non tatoué, 1 cas a été converti en chirurgie effractive afin qu'on puisse repérer la lésion, 3 cas ont nécessité une coloscopie peropératoire et 1 cas présentait des marges positives à l'examen pathologique final.Afin d'améliorer la planification chirurgicale, nous recommandons le tatouage endoscopique de toutes les lésions du côlon, au point distal de la lésion, et de procéder par injections multiples en vue de couvrir la circonférence de la paroi intestinale.

ERUS and MRI are used for preoperative imaging of rectal cancer. Here, we compare ERUS and MRI for accuracy of CRM prediction at mid- and distal rectal locations. In retrospective review, 20 rectal cancer patients having TME surgery had both ERUS and MRI preoperatively: 8 mid rectum and 12 in distal rectum. Predicted CRM by ERUS and MRI were compared to TME pathology. Overall, predicted CRM was 6.5 ± 3.6 mm by ERUS, 7.7 ± 5.0 mm by MRI, and 6.0 ± 4.6 mm by pathology. Overall, correlation coefficients to pathology were 0.77 (p = 0.0004) for ERUS and 0.64 (p = 0.008) for MRI. In distal rectum, correlation coefficients were 0.71 (p = 0.02) for ERUS and −0.10 (p = 0.79) for MRI. In mid rectum, correlation coefficients were 0.92 (p = 0.01) for ERUS and 0.44 (p = 0.38) for MRI. While MRI is used routinely for preoperative rectal cancer imaging, ERUS can provide additional assessment of CRM for mid or distal rectal lesions. Further investigation is needed to support these preliminary ERUS CRM findings in mid and distal rectum.

Transanal endoscopic surgery is the treatment of choice in patients with rectal adenomas that cannot be removed by endoscopy. However, the risk of adenoma recurrence and optimal surveillance is not well defined. The objective of this study was to characterize the timing and frequency of rectal adenoma recurrence after removal by transanal endoscopic surgery and identify recurrence risk factors. This was a retrospective cohort study of a large, single-center academic institution in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Consecutive patients between May 1, 2007 and September 30, 2016 with pathology-confirmed rectal adenoma treated by primary excision with transanal endoscopic surgery and at least 1 year of confirmed endoscopic follow-up were included. Main outcome measures were recurrence rates following TEM as well as risk factors for recurrence. 297 patients met inclusion criteria. The mean age of patients was 66.5 ± 11.5 years and 57.9% were male. Median follow-up was 623 (range 56–3841) days. A total of 62 recurrences occurred in 41 patients (13.8% of study population). Recurrences were managed with repeat transanal endoscopic surgery or endoscopic resection 67.7% and 25.8% of the time, respectively. Radical resection was required for adenocarcinoma in 4 patients. Recurrence-free survival rates were 93.4% at 1 year, 86.2% at 2 years, and 73.1% at 5 years. After adjusting for individual surgeons, adenoma height, size > 3 cm, high-grade dysplasia, positive margins, and management of the rectal defect, patients who underwent surgery in the latter 5 years of the study had lower odds of recurrence (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.19, 0.93, p = 0.03). Rectal adenomas managed by transanal endoscopic surgery are lesions at high risk for recurrence; surveillance should be performed within the first 2 years and continued for a total of at least 5 years. Most recurrences can be successfully treated with repeat TEM or endoscopic resection.

To determine whether closure of the defect created during full thickness excision of a rectal lesion with transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) leads to fewer complications when compared to leaving the defect unsutured. This is a single-center cohort study using a prospectively maintained database. All patients ≥18 years old treated with full thickness TEM with no compromise of the peritoneal cavity were included. Two cohorts were established: patients with the defect sutured and patients with the defect left open. Demographic, operative, and pathologic data were compared. The main outcome analyzed was early (

Formalin fixation is the standard method for the preservation of tissue for diagnostic purposes, including pathologic review and molecular assays. However, this method is known to cause artifacts that can affect the accuracy of molecular genetic test results. We assessed the applicability of alternative fixatives to determine whether these perform significantly better on next-generation sequencing assays, and whether adequate morphology is retained for primary diagnosis, in a prospective study using a clinical-grade, laboratory-developed targeted resequencing assay. Several parameters relating to sequencing quality and variant calling were examined and quantified in tumor and normal colon epithelial tissues. We identified an alternative fixative that suppresses many formalin-related artifacts while retaining adequate morphology for pathologic review.

Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) is the treatment of choice for benign rectal tumors and select early rectal cancers. This surgical approach has become ubiquitous and surgeons are seeing recurrent lesions after TEM resection. This study aims to outline the safety and outcomes of repeat TEM when compared to primary TEM procedures.At St. Paul's Hospital, demographic, surgical, pathologic, and follow-up data for patients treated by TEM are maintained in a prospectively populated database. Two groups were established for comparison: patients undergoing first TEM procedure (TEM-P) and patients undergoing repeat TEM procedure (TEM-R).Between 2007 and 2017, 669 patients had their first TEM procedure. Over this time frame, 57 of these patients required repeat TEM procedures, including 15 of these patients treated by 3 or more TEMs. Indications for repeat TEM included recurrence (78%), positive margins (15%), and metachronous lesions (7%). There were no differences between the groups in patient age, gender, or tumor histology. Compared to TEM-P, TEM-R had shorter operative times (38 vs. 52 min, p 0.001), more distal lesions (5 vs. 7 cm, p 0.004), and smaller lesions (3 vs. 4 cm, p 0.0003). The TEM-R group had similar length of hospital stay (0.45 vs. 0.56 days, p = 0.65), rates of clear margins on pathology (81% vs. 88%, p = 0.09), and 30-day readmission rates (7% vs. 4%, p = 0.27) when compared to TEM-P group. TEM-R was more likely to be managed without suturing the surgical defect (72% vs. 32%, p 0.0001). Repeat TEM was associated with similar post-operative complications as primary TEM graded on the Clavien-Dindo classification scale (Grade 1: 5% vs. 5%, Grade 2: 5% vs. 4%, Grade 3: 5% vs. 1%, p = 0.53). No 30-day mortality occurred in either group.The St. Paul's Hospital TEM experience suggests repeat TEM is a safe and feasible procedure with similar outcomes as patients undergoing first TEM.

Surgical site infections of up to 27% are reported for colorectal surgery. Care bundles have been introduced to decrease surgical site infection rates, but are variable in composition.This study aimed to determine whether the addition of a "Colorectal Closure Bundle" in our Enhanced Recovery After Surgery pathway decreased surgical site infection rates.This is a retrospective study of elective colon resections before and after the addition of a closure bundle.This study was conducted at a single academic institution.Patients undergoing consecutive elective colon resections with primary anastomosis, December 2012 to July 31, 2014, enrolled in our Enhanced Recovery After Surgery pathway. Exclusion criteria were stoma creation and closure and preoperative chemoradiation.The "Colorectal Closure Bundle," which includes a change in gown and gloves, redraping, wound lavage, and a new set of instruments for closure, was added to the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery pathway.The primary outcome measured was surgical site infections as defined by CDC criteria.Two hundred five patients were reviewed, 111 preintervention and 94 postintervention. Overall surgical site infection rates were 25.2% preintervention vs 26.6% postintervention (p = 0.82). Surgical site infections were subdivided into "superficial" and "deep and organ space" and were 14.4% and 10.8% preintervention vs 14.9% and 11.7% postintervention (p = not significant). Smoking and diabetes mellitus were found to be independently associated with surgical site infections on multivariate analysis, with adjusted odds ratios of 4.32 (95% CI, 1.70-10.94), p = 0.002, and 2.87 (95% CI 1.30-6.34), p = 0.009.Limitations include the retrospective nature of the study and the small sample size.There was no change in surgical site infection rates after implementation of the "Colorectal Closure Bundle." Smoking and diabetes mellitus were the only significant risk factors associated with increased surgical site infections. Our infection rates remain high and further change in our perioperative protocol is needed.

Background High urinary infection (UTI) rate (12%) for our rectal surgery prompted practice change to early catheter removal (postoperative day 2) and prophylactic tamsulosin. Here we report urinary retention (UR) and UTI after this change. Methods Retrospective cohort study in male patients 50+ years undergoing elective colorectal surgery from July 2015 to July 2017. Multivariate regression was used to determine risk factors for urinary retention. Results 157 patients, 57 without and 100 with tamsulosin had UR 11.46% and UTI 5.13%. Of all potential risk factors, ileus (OR 5.50, 95% CI: 1.86–16.24) was an independent risk factor for urinary retention. Conclusions Urinary retention of 11% after colorectal resection is within literature range and associated with post-operative ileus. Tamsulosin did not affect UR in our small study sample. Early catheter removal was associated with decreased UTI rate.

Background A diverting stoma is an accepted adjunct to low anterior resection (LAR) for rectal cancer. However, some patients do not undergo a subsequent procedure to have the stoma reversed. We aim to determine incidence and risk factors for nonclosure of the diverting stoma. Methods This is a retrospective study of stage I to III rectal cancer patients at a single institution having LAR with curative intent and a diverting stoma. Results We studied 162 patients. Prevalence of nonclosure of the temporary stoma was 14.5% within 13 months of the index surgery. On a multivariate linear regression model, nonclosure was associated with anastomotic leak (odds ratio 9.89, 2.31 to 43.93, P P Conclusions Prevalence of nonclosure of a diverting stoma after LAR for rectal cancer is substantial (14.5%). Patients should be counselled regarding this risk with particular attention to potential risk factors.

BACKGROUND Stage for stage, rectal cancer has historically been associated with inferior survival compared with colon cancer. Randomized trials of rectal cancer have generally demonstrated improvements in locoregional relapse but not survival. OBJECTIVE We compared therapy and outcomes of colon versus rectal cancer in 2 time cohorts to determine if relative improvements have occurred. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with resected stage II/III colorectal cancer referred to the British Columbia Cancer Agency in 1989/1990 and 2001/2002 were identified. The higher of clinical or pathologic stage was used for patients receiving preoperative chemoradiation. Disease-specific survival (DSS) and overall survival (OS) were compared for rectal and colon cancer between the 2 cohorts. Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis. RESULTS A total of 1427 patients were included, with 375 from 1989/1990 and 1052 from 2001/2002. Between 1989/1990 and 2001/2002 there were significant increases in the use of perioperative chemotherapy for both rectal and colon cancer (P

Anal dilation during tumour excision with transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) has caused concerns regarding postoperative anal function. We sought to determine whether TEM affects anorectal function and quality of life.All patients undergoing TEM between March 2007 and December 2008 were considered for inclusion. We excluded patients who were treated with subsequent radical resection, unavailable for interview or deceased. Patients were interviewed by phone to measure the preoperative and postoperative function using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire- Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) and Core 38 (CR38) instruments, the Fecal Incontinence Severity Index (FISI) and the Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life (FIQL) questionnaires. Statistical analysis involved the Wilcoxon signed rank test and Spearman rank correlation coefficient.Forty patients received TEM; 30 of them met all inclusion criteria and agreed to participate. The median age was 70 (42-93) years, and median follow-up time between the interview and the operation was 365 (55-712) days. Tumours excised included 19 adenomas, 8 carcinomas and 3 carcinoid tumours. The median distance from the tumour to the anal verge was 6.5 (2-13) cm. Median length of stay was 1 (0-12) day. For most aspects of quality of life, there were no detectable differences after surgery. The EORTC QLQ-C30 showed a significant improvement in diarrhea (27.8 v. 10, p = 0.002). The FIQL scores improved with surgery (3.59 v. 3.85, p = 0.020). There was no difference in pre- versus postoperative FISI scores (6.7 v. 6.3, p = 0.93).Despite a large operating rectoscope, TEM improves quality of life related to fecal incontinence and does not have a negative impact on fecal continence.La dilatation de l'anus au cours de l'excision d'une tumeur par microchirurgie endoscopique transanale (MET) soulève des préoccupations quant à la fonction anale postopératoire. Nous avons cherché à déterminer si la MET a un effet sur la fonction anorectale et la qualité de vie.Nous avons envisagé d'inclure tous les patients ayant subi une MET entre mars 2007 et décembre 2008. Nous avons exclu les patients qui ont été traités par résection radicale subséquente, qui n'étaient pas disponibles pour une entrevue ou qui étaient décédés. Nous avons interviewé les patients par téléphone pour mesurer la fonction préopératoire et postopératoire au moyen du Questionnaire sur la qualité de vie — Base 30 de l'Organisation européenne de recherche sur le traitement du cancer (EORTC QLQC30) et Base 38 (CR38), l'Indice de sévérité de l'incontinence fécale (ISIF) et la qualité de vie liée à l'incontinence fécale (QVIF). L'analyse statistique a comporté le test de Wilcoxon pour observations appariées et le coefficient de corrélation de rang de Spearman.Sur les 40 patients qui ont subi une MET, 30 répondaient à tous les critères d'inclusion et ont consenti à participer. L'âge médian était de 70 (42–93) ans et le temps médian du suivi qui s'est écoulé entre l'entrevue et l'opération s'est établi à 365 (55–712) jours. Les tumeurs excisées comportaient 19 adénomes, 8 carcinomes et 3 tu meurs carcinoïdes. La distance moyenne entre la tumeur et la marge de l'anus était de 6,5 (2–13) cm. La durée médiane du séjour était de 1 (0–12) jour. Pour la plupart des aspects de la qualité de vie, il n'y avait pas de différence détectable après l'intervention chirurgicale. Le questionnaire EORTC QLQ-C30 a révélé une amélioration importante au niveau de la diarrhée (27,8 c. 10,En dépit de la grosseur du rectoscope utilisé pendant l'intervention, la MET améliore la qualité de vie liée à l'incontinence fécale et n'a pas d'effet négatif sur la continence fécale.

The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons is dedicated to assuring high-quality patient care by advancing the science, prevention, and management of disorders and diseases of the colon, rectum, and anus. The Standards Committee is composed of Society members who are chosen because they have demonstrated expertise in the specialty of colon and rectal surgery. This Committee was created to lead international efforts in defining quality care for conditions related to the colon, rectum, and anus. This is accompanied by developing Clinical Practice Guidelines based on the best available evidence. These guidelines are inclusive, and not prescriptive. Their purpose is to provide information on which decisions can be made, rather than dictate a specific form of treatment. These guidelines are intended for the use of all practitioners, health care workers, and patients who desire information about the management of the conditions addressed by the topics covered in these guidelines. It should be recognized that these guidelines should not be deemed inclusive of all proper methods of care or exclusive of methods of care reasonably directed to obtaining the same results. The ultimate judgment regarding the propriety of any specific procedure must be made by the physician in light of all of the circumstances presented by the individual patient.

Crohn’s disease (CD) is a complex disorder with important incidence in North America. Perianal fistulas occur in about 20% of patients with CD and are almost always classified as complex fistulas. Conventional treatment options have shown different success rates, yet there are data indicating that these approaches cannot achieve total cure and may not improve quality of life of these patients. Fibrin glue, fistula plug, topical tacrolimus, local injection of infliximab, and use of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are newly suggested therapies with variable success rates. Here, we aim to review these novel therapies for the treatment of complex fistulizing CD. Although initial results are promising, randomized studies are needed to prove efficacy of these approaches in curing fistulizing perianal CD.

PURPOSE: In a strategy aimed to improve perioperative and operative management of rectal cancer in British Columbia (BC), a series of educational events were provided for BC surgeons, radiation oncologists, and pathologists including teaching on the use of preoperative radiation, surgical technique with total mesorectal excision (TME), and pathology reporting. Seminars were offered during 2002 and 2003 each over 2 days with documented attendance from 30 hospitals in the province. We wished to determine whether frequency of preoperative radiation and TME surgery changed on a population level after the rectal cancer education courses in 2002 and 2003. METHODS: All patients were referred to the BC Cancer Agency, the only center for radiation in BC. Treatments and data were abstracted from the Colorectal Cancer Outcomes Unit database. Patients with resected stage I to III rectal cancer were included who were diagnosed before (2000-2001) and after (2004) the education courses. We used changes from 2000 to 2001 to reflect effects of sporadic continued medical education (CME) compared with effects of formal systematic provincial education courses (changes from 2001 to 2004). RESULTS: A total of 778 eligible patients were included from 2000 (n = 264), 2001 (n = 202), and 2004 (n = 312). The percentage of stage III patients was similar in the 3 time periods. The use of preoperative radiation therapy increased significantly over time, 43% (114/264), 56% (113/202), and 86% (268/312) (P < .0001). TME use also increased significantly, 35%, 44%, and 71% (P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of guidelines for the use of preoperative radiation and TME by formal systematic provincial education courses for surgeons, radiation oncologists, and pathologists resulted in significant improvements in rectal cancer management on a provincial level. Such programs may be more effective than "sporadic" CME, particularly in multidisciplinary and complex care settings like adjuvant rectal cancer therapy.

Clinical evaluation alone is still considered adequate by many clinicians who treat patients with appendicitis. The impact of computed tomography (CT) on clinical outcomes remains unclear, and there is no consensus regarding the appropriate use of CT in these patients. We sought to evaluate the impact of abdominal CT on the clinical outcomes of patients presenting with suspected appendicitis.We conducted a systematic review of the literature to identify studies that examined clinical outcomes related to the use of abdominal CT in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Inclusion criteria were studies of adult patients with suspected appendicitis that evaluated the impact of abdominal CT on negative appendectomy rates, perforation rates or time to surgery. Two independent investigators reviewed all titles and abstracts and extracted data from 28 full-text articles. Statistical analysis was conducted using Review Manager 5.0.10 software.The negative appendectomy rate was 8.7% when using CT compared with 16.7% when using clinical evaluation alone (p0.001). There was also a significantly lower negative appendectomy rate during the CT era compared with the pre-CT era (10.0% v. 21.5%, p0.001). Time to surgery was evaluated in 10 of the 28 studies, 5 of which demonstrated a significant increase in the time to surgery with the use of CT. Appendiceal perforation rates were unchanged by the use of CT (23.4% in the CT group v. 16.7% in the clinical evaluation group, p = 0.15). Similarly, the perforation rate during the CT era was not significantly different than that during the pre-CT era (20.0% v. 19.6%, p = 0.74).This meta-analysis supports the hypothesis that the use of preoperative abdominal CT is associated with lower negative appendectomy rates. The use of CT in the absence of an expedited imaging protocol may delay surgery, but this delay is not associated with increased appendiceal perforation rates. Routine CT in all patients presenting with suspected appendicitis could reduce the rate of unnecessary surgery without increasing morbidity.

Treatment of rectal cancer over the last two decades has evolved with changes in techniques of surgery and radiation based on national and international trials. Preoperative adjuvant radiation is now preferred over postoperative adjuvant radiation, and total mesorectal excision with preservation of pelvic nerves is the gold standard for surgical treatment of rectal cancer. Preservation of the anal sphincter without compromising oncological outcome is an additional benefit for patients with carcinoma in the distal rectum. Further progress in imaging and a multidisciplinary team approach will facilitate individualization of treatment strategy with more focus on quality of life.

Endorectal ultrasound (ERUS) is used to preoperatively assess locoregional stage in patients with rectal neoplasms. This study evaluates the accuracy of ERUS in determining the T stage of rectal neoplasms treated by transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM).All patients in the St Paul's Hospital TEM database were evaluated and excluded if they had been treated with neoadjuvant therapy. ERUS results were compared with gold-standard postoperative histopathology reports. Tumor height from anal verge was measured by ERUS and endoscopic techniques.Fifty-three patients were eligible to participate in the study. A Friedman test demonstrated significant difference in the T stage between ERUS and the histopathology reports (P.001). The tumor height measured by ERUS is significantly higher than the height measured by endoscopy (P.05).This study confirms that ERUS often overstages rectal neoplasms and suggests that ERUS findings should not preclude TEM in clinically appropriate patients.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether knowledge gained (as determined by a formal course test) by surgeons in a continuing education course on total mesorectal excision and rectal cancer management is retained 1 year later. A formal course test had been previously developed and validated. The test evaluated course content including pelvic anatomy, surgical techniques, imaging, pathology, adjuvant therapies, and cancer and functional outcomes. Validation was determined by the absence of change in pre- and posttest scores of the "expert" course instructors (n = 8, P = .6) and by a linear correlation in test scores with increasing level of general-surgery resident training (n = 16, P = .001). Significant learning by the 58 surgeons taking the course had been shown by improvement in test scores from before the course (mean score 19) to after the course (mean score 25.3, P = .001, out of a possible 33 total mark). At 1 year after the course, those course participants (n = 44, 76%) who had provided postcourse contact information were asked to complete the course test again. Responses were received from 18 surgeons (41% of those surveyed, 31% of the original course participants). The mean score on the test after 1 year was 23.8. Compared with the immediate posttest scores, there was no significant knowledge loss over the year (P = .09). We conclude that knowledge acquired during a continuing education course for surgeons on total mesorectal excision and rectal-cancer management is retained 1 year later.

Background A subset of patients with colon cancer staged by conventional methods have occult micrometastases and do not receive adjuvant chemotherapy. Sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping and staining by immunohistochemistry is a technique that may identify such occult micrometastases, thereby upstaging patients with positive findings. The purpose of this study was to determine whether ex vivo SLN mapping in colon cancer could be applied successfully to patients at our institution. Methods Seventeen patients with intraperitoneal colon tumors undergoing resection were studied prospectively. SLNs were identified as the first blue stained node(s) after ex vivo peritumoral injection of isosulfan blue dye. Additional lymph nodes were harvested and processed in accordance with standard pathologic evaluation for colon cancer. All nodes were examined after routine hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. SLNs that were negative on H&E were analyzed further by multilevel sectioning and immunohistochemistry staining using anticytokeratin monoclonal antibody. Results Of the 17 study patients, SLNs were identified in 16 (94%) cases. The SLN was the only positive node in 3 patients. An identified SLN was positive (by H&E) in all patients with associated positive non-SLN nodes. The average number of nodes retrieved per patient was 16 (range, 4–54). Overall, SLNs accurately reflected the status of the entire lymph node basin in 16 (94%) patients. Two (12%) patients with negative nodes by H&E potentially were upstaged after further SLN analysis. The negative predictive value for SLN mapping was 89%. Conclusions The ex vivo technique of SLN mapping for colon cancer is feasible. In the current study, SLN results were concordant with non-SLNs in the majority of patients. Furthermore, this technique may have upstaged 2 (12%) patients. Whether this ultimately will affect overall survival has yet to be determined.

Linitis plastica refers to thickening, decreased motility, and increased rigidity of the wall of a hollow organ, classically the stomach. 1,2 This condition is caused by malignant infiltration of the wall associated with fibrosis and proliferation of connective tissue and may occur as a primary or secondary process. It rarely involves the colon but, when it does, is usually a manifestation of metastatic disease.3 The disease is notably difficult to diagnose, even when there is a history of carcinoma elsewhere. The mucosa may be spared and thus intact on endoscopic examination with subsequent negative superficial biopsy results. 2,4,5 Radiologically, linitis plastica may mimic primary (mucosal origin) rectal cancer, other inflammatory or ischemic processes, or postradiotherapy changes. 1,2,6 Barium-enhanced radiologic and computed tomographic findings are well described but are often nonspecific. 1,6 This case illustrates the features of linitis plastica on transrectal ultrasonography and how this technique, which is increasingly performed in the staging of rectal tumors, may suggest the correct diagnosis.

Rectal cancer patients' expectations of health and function may affect their disease- and treatment-related experience, but how patients form expectations of postsurgery function has received little study.We used a qualitative approach to explore patient expectations of outcomes related to bowel function after sphincter-preserving surgery for rectal cancer.This was a cohort study of patients who were about to undergo sphincter-preserving surgery for rectal cancer.The study was conducted through individual telephone interviews with participants.Twenty-six patients (14 men and 12 women) with clinical TNM stage I to III disease were enrolled.The semistructured interview script contained open-ended questions on patient expectations of postoperative bowel function and its perceived impact on daily function and life. Two researchers analyzed the interview transcripts for emergent themes using a grounded theory approach.Participant expectations of bowel function reflected 3 major themes: 1) information sources, 2) personal attitudes, and 3) expected outcomes. The expected outcomes theme contained references to specific symptoms and participants' descriptions of the certainty, importance, and imminence of expected outcomes. Despite multiple information sources and attempts at maintaining a positive personal attitude, participants expressed much uncertainty about their long-term bowel function. They were more focused on what they considered more important and imminent concerns about being cancer free and getting through surgery.This study was limited by context in terms of the timing of interviews (relative to the treatment course). The transferability to other contexts requires further study.Patient expectations of long-term functional outcomes cannot be considered outside of the overall context of the cancer experience and the relative importance and imminence of cancer- and treatment-related events. Recognizing the complexities of the expectation formation process offers opportunities to develop strategies to enhance patient education and appropriately manage expectations, attend to immediate and long-term concerns, and support patients through the treatment and recovery process.

We tested the hypothesis that endotoxemia and fasting are associated with increased gut apoptotic activity, gut permeability, and inflammation in a distant organ. Fed or fasted CD-1 mice were studied 6 h after intraperitoneal injection of either saline (sham) or endotoxin (4 mg/kg of 0111:B4 Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide). We found that endotoxin increased gut caspase-3 and -6 activity by 4.9 ± 0.6- and 4.5 ± 0.5-fold, respectively ( P < 0.001), and increased terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining of mucosal cells ( P< 0.05). Feeding decreased caspase-3 activity by 40% ( P< 0.05) and decreased endotoxin-induced TUNEL staining ( P< 0.05). Endotoxin increased gut poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase activity by 15% ( P < 0.05). Endotoxin increased gut permeability by 44% ( P < 0.05), an effect reduced 36% by feeding ( P < 0.05). Similarly, endotoxin increased pulmonary neutrophil infiltration (6.0 ± 1.0-fold, P< 0.001) and increased lung interleukin (IL)-6 (5.9 ± 0.1-fold, P < 0.001) and macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-2 expression (290 ± 40-fold, P < 0.001), whereas feeding decreased this effect by 43% for neutrophils, 40% for IL-6 ( P < 0.05), and 35% for MIP-2 ( P < 0.05). Thus endotoxin increases gut apoptotic activity, gut permeability, and pulmonary inflammation. Enteral feeding may decrease the distant organ inflammation by reducing gut apoptosis, thereby maintaining gut mucosal function during endotoxemia.

Approximately 20% of patients with ulcerative colitis will require surgical treatment. Recent data suggest that infliximab may reduce the need for surgery in patients with severe ulcerative colitis. However, it is unclear whether data from these small trials will translate to reduced colectomy rates in populations with ulcerative colitis.The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of infliximab on the rates of colectomy for ulcerative colitis and the prescribing practices for infliximab in British Columbia, Canada.We retrospectively reviewed data from 4 province-wide population-based databases maintained by the British Columbia Ministry of Health, a central registry, a hospital separations file, a physician payment file, and a pharmaceutical file. Data were collected from April 1, 2001, to March 31, 2010.This investigation was conducted at the University of British Columbia.All patients aged 18 to 75 with ulcerative colitis were included and identified using a validated strategy with International Classification of Diseases 9/10 codes. Patients with severe ulcerative colitis were defined by treatment with a course of corticosteroids during the study period. Patients treated with infliximab were identified using the provincial pharmaceutical file.The primary outcome was surgery determined by an International Classification of Diseases 9/10 code for partial or total colectomy.Between 2001 and 2010, 7227 subjects were identified with ulcerative colitis. The number of subjects with severe ulcerative colitis was 2537. For general ulcerative colitis, rates of colectomy decreased from 9.97% to 8.88% in the preinfliximab era (2003-2004) and postinfliximab era (2008-2009; p = 0.03). For severe ulcerative colitis, there was no significant difference in colectomy rates (9.97% vs 11.14%; p = 0.18). The highest rate of infliximab prescription was found to be in the provincial health region that encompasses the tertiary academic centers of the province.Although the overall number of patients in this analysis is sizeable, the number of patients who were prescribed infliximab during the study period is relatively modest, which may have impacted trends.In the severe ulcerative colitis population, there has been no change in the colectomy rate over time despite the introduction of infliximab.

The objective of this study was to determine if timeliness of care would improve after implementation of the team approach in trauma management in a single teaching hospital. To make this determination, we used a before-and-after retrospective cohort series for a 550-bed teaching and tertiary referral hospital that was not a level 1 trauma center. We included all patients who presented to the Emergency Department and who were admitted to St. Paul's Hospital because of trauma during 2 baseline months (May and November 1987; n = 111) and 2 follow-up months (May and November 1990; n = 142). In 1988, a formal trauma team was developed to coordinate the care of trauma patients who were seen in the Emergency Department. Indications for calling the trauma team were based on the criteria of the American College of Surgeons for triage to a trauma center. We calculated elapsed time from assessment in the Emergency Department to arrival of the trauma surgeon, discharge from the Emergency Department, and arrival of the patient in the operating room (for urgent or emergent surgery). We also determined the Revised Trauma Score, the Injury Severity Score (1985 version), the crude mortality ratio, and the Z statistic (population outcome comparison). After implementation of the trauma team, median elapsed time from initial nursing assessment in the Emergency Department to arrival in the operating Room for blunt trauma patients decreased from 11.33 to 4.82 hours (P = .05), but there were no significant differences in any other measures of timeliness, crude mortality, or adjusted mortality. We conclude that implementation of a trauma team in a teaching hospital is associated with a minimal effect on timeliness of care for admitted trauma patients.

Total mesorectal excision with preoperative radiation and chemotherapy provide the lowest local recurrence rates for rectal cancer. Timing of surgery after preoperative chemoradiation is being increased to optimize tumor downstaging. In cases of complete clinical response from chemoradiation, permissive observation without resection is being investigated. Significant anorectal dysfunction results from low anterior resection and radiation. Good prognostic tumor characteristics are being investigated with the aim of selecting cases for whom preoperative radiation may be avoided. Preoperative and postoperative radiation provides improved local cancer control for superficial cancers removed by local excision.

We sought to determine whether ischemic gut is a source of endotoxin, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in a porcine model of endotoxicosis.Under general anesthesia pigs underwent neck dissection and laparotomy for placement of catheters in the carotid artery and portal vein and application of an ultrasonic flow probe around the portal vein. Endotoxin, TNF, and IL-6 levels were measured from the carotid artery and the portal vein during a 4 hour period in animals given endotoxin (50 mg/kg; n = 6) and in animals in the control group (n = 6). Gut fluxes of the substances of interest were calculated as the product of concentration and portal venous flow. A tonometer placed in the terminal ileum was used to monitor mucosal pH.Small bowel mucosal pH was significantly depressed in endotoxemic animals (6.8 +/- 0.1) when compared with baseline (7.1 +/- 0.1; p0.05) and control levels. In the control group portal venous levels of endotoxin, TNF, and IL-6 did not change significantly from baseline levels (1.5 +/- 0.4 endotoxin units (EU)/ml, 24 +/- 3 pU/ml, and 1.3 +/- 0.4 nU/ml, respectively). In the endotoxemic animals portal venous endotoxin and TNF levels peaked immediately after the endotoxin infusion (2186 +/- 437 EU/ml, and 293 +/- 125 pU/ml, respectively), and portal venous IL-6 levels peaked at 180 minutes (168 +/- 21 nU/ml). At no time did endotoxin, TNF, or IL-6 levels differ between arterial and portal venous blood, and at no time did efflux from the gut significantly exceed gut influx in either the control or endotoxemic animals.Ischemic gut as indicated by decreased mucosal pH is not associated with gut release of endotoxin, IL-6, or TNF in this porcine model of endotoxicosis.

Recent observations have highlighted errors in the thermodilution technique of measuring cardiac output. Thus, cardiac output measurements using transesophageal echocardiography and the Fick method were compared with simultaneous thermodilution measurements.In 13 mechanically ventilated critically ill patients, cardiac output was determined simultaneously using (1) transesophageal echocardiography (COTEE, (2) the Fick method (COFICK, and (3) thermodilution (COTD immediately before and after a rapid infusion of 500 mL of saline. Left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic areas were measured using the transesophageal echocardiographic transgastric short axis view, and COTEE was calculated from the corresponding volumes. Absolute cardiac output values and the changes from before to after saline infusion (delta CO) were compared using analysis of variance, linear regression, and the Bland and Altman method.There were no significant differences between COTEE (8.0 +/- 3.4), COFICK (8.4 +/- 3.3), and COTD (8.3 +/- 3.0) or between delta COTEE, delta COFICK, and delta COTD using analysis of variance. However, correlations between COTEE and COTD (r2 = 0.46; P.00001), COFICK and COTD (r2 = 0.46; P.0001), and COTEE and COFICK (r2 = 0.42; P.0001) were only moderately good. Using the method of Bland and Altman, the mean difference (+/-2 standard deviations) between COTEE and COTD was 0.3 +/- 4.3 L/min, between COFICK and COTD was -1.0 +/- 3.8 L/min, and between COTEE and COFICK was 0.6 +/- 5.6 L/min, whereas the difference between delta COTEE and delta COTD was 0% +/- 26%, between delta COFICK and delta COTD was 9% +/- 46%, and between delta COTEE and delta COFICK was 8% +/- 39%.There are substantial differences in cardiac output as measured by these three methods, best demonstrated using the method of Bland and Altman. The variability of cardiac output and its derivatives (eg, oxygen delivery) should be borne in mind when making clinical decisions on individual patients.

Subcutaneous emphysema following laparoscopy could result in postoperative respiratory acidosis from prolonged CO2 absorption. We studied the magnitude and duration of alterations in PaCO2 coincident with direct CO2 insufflation into the subcutaneous fat of the anterior abdominal wall of 5 anesthetized juvenile pigs.First, each pig was insufflated with 6 L of CO2 to produce moderate emphysema over the trunk. Following return to baseline PaCO2, each pig was re-insufflated with 12 L of CO2 to produce severe emphysema over lower limbs, neck, head, and trunk. Measurements of arterial blood gases were performed every 5 or 10 min. Minute ventilation was held constant to represent the worst case scenario.From baseline PaCO2 of 41.8 +/- 2.3 mm Hg, PaCO2 peaked at 68.3 +/- 8.6 (P0.02) and 92.9 +/- 10.7 (P0.01) mm Hg for the 6- and 12-L volumes, respectively, 20 to 25 minutes following insufflation. From baseline arterial pH of 7.40 +/- 0.02, respective nadirs of pH were 7.21 +/- 0.06 (P0.02) and 7.08 +/- 0.05 (P0.01). PaCO2 and arterial pH took approximately 100 minutes to return to baseline after insufflation with both 6 and 12 L volumes.When minute ventilation is fixed, subcutaneous CO2 insufflation causes increased PaCO2 and decreased pH that may persist for a prolonged period of time. Therefore, patients with subcutaneous emphysema after laparoscopy should be observed in postanesthetic recovery until PaCO2 and pH approach baseline.

At present, pelvic phased array-coil MR is used as the validated imaging modality for measurement of the closest predicted radial mesorectal margin for rectal cancer. Endorectal ultrasound is also used to assess the clinical stage of the cancer that will determine the recommendation for neoadjuvant chemoradiation, but it has not been used to assess the closest predicted radial margin.We propose to assess endorectal ultrasound identification of mesorectal margins and the measurement of the closest predicted radial tumor-mesorectal margin.Patients included were those having MRI and endorectal ultrasound for evaluation of primary rectal cancer in 2010 at a tertiary cancer referral colorectal clinic. Clinical data, MRI, and endorectal ultrasound images were assessed. Two independent retrospective measurements of mesorectal dimensions were correlated to evaluate the reproducibility of identifying mesorectal margins. MRI and endorectal ultrasound images were compared for independent measurements of mesorectal dimensions and of the closest predicted radial mesorectal margin. MRI and endorectal ultrasound determination of margin involvement were assessed for agreement.Fifty-two patients were studied with an average rectal cancer distance to the anal verge of 6.8 cm. Interobserver correlation coefficients of endorectal ultrasound mesorectal dimensions ranged from 0.47 to 0.53 (p0.01). MR and endorectal ultrasound measurements of the closest predicted radial mesorectal margin were correlated r = 0.56 (p0.0001). MR and endorectal ultrasound determination of margin involvement agreed in 81% of cases.Endorectal ultrasound has substantial agreement with MR to measure the closest predicted radial tumor-mesorectal margin. Correlations between observers and modalities for identification of mesorectal dimensions are modest. Further assessment is indicated to confirm endorectal ultrasound mesorectal measurements in a larger sample and to understand the advantages and disadvantages relative to MR.

We tested a system of indirect calorimetry (Deltatrac Metabolic Monitor) for accuracy to measure oxygen consumption and sensitivity to detect small changes in oxygen consumption, in vitro, using a lung model simulation of ventilating patients who have stiff lungs. In vivo, we assessed reproducibility of the system to measure oxygen consumption in patients who had adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or sepsis. In vitro, oxygen consumptions of 100, 200, 300, and 500 mL/min were simulated by injecting N 2 into the lung model at 3-minute ventilations (10, 15, and 20 L/min) and at four levels of FIO 2 (0.40, 0.60, 0.70, and 0.80). After each baseline measurement, N 2 flow was increased to simulate an increase in VO 2 of 10% to 15%. At FIO 2 of 0.6 and 0.8, 15 cm H 2 O of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) was applied to the lung model and measurements repeated. The Deltatrac had an average error of −2.1% (range, −7% to 3%). After simulated increases in oxygen consumption, the Deltatrac detected the change with an error less than 1% in all combinations tested. Although adding PEEP to the lung model altered accuracy of measurement, error was always less than 5%. We measured oxygen consumption in 27 ventilated and sedated patients who had severe ARDS or sepsis (FIO 2 , 0.60 ± 0.1; PEEP, 9 ± 3 cm H 2 O; static compliance, 27 ± 12 mL/cm H 2 O [mean ± SD]). Coefficient of variation for oxygen consumption was 4.6% ± 1.6%. Even at FIO 2 , 0.80 coefficient of variation was less than 6%. We conclude that this system of indirect calorimetry is accurate, sensitive, and reproducible to measure VO 2 in critically ill patients.

BACKGROUND: Short-course preoperative radiotherapy and total mesorectal excision have decreased local recurrence rates from rectal cancer. However, the effect of this radiotherapy on bowel function and quality of life in these patients is not well understood. METHODS: Between 1999 and 2004, 34 patients underwent low anterior resection and either short-course preoperative radiation (N = 24) or surgery alone (N = 10). Quality of life and bowel function were assessed using validated instruments: European Organization of Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life questionnaires, Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life Scale, and the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Bowel Function Instrument. RESULTS: Patients treated with preoperative radiation had higher rates of fecal incontinence and showed a strong trend toward lower global quality-of-life scores. In addition, there was a trend toward worse bowel function in these patients. CONCLUSIONS: Patients treated with short-course preoperative radiotherapy had worse continence-related quality of life than patients treated with surgery alone for rectal cancer. Fecal incontinence has a negative effect on quality of life in these patients, causing difficulty with coping, lifestyle, and depression, and limiting daily activities. Validated instruments provide standardized assessment of bowel function and quality of life.