0000000001183051

AUTHOR

Alejandro Espí

Low rectal cancer: abdominoperineal resection or low Hartmann resection? A postoperative outcome analysis.

BACKGROUND In distal rectum cancers, when the sphincters are not affected and it is not possible to perform a coloanal anastomosis because of the presence of comorbidities or the advanced age of the patient, a low Hartmann resection with total mesorectal excision can be performed. Low Hartmann resection is usually considered to be a shorter procedure and to have an inferior morbidity compared with abdominoperineal resection of the rectum. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to compare the postoperative outcome of a series of patients with low rectal cancer who have undergone either low Hartmann resection or abdominoperineal resection. DESIGN This study is a retrospective analysis of data collected i…

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Predictors of complications and mortality following left colectomy with primary stapled anastomosis for cancer: results of a multicentric study with 1111 patients

Aim Reports detailing the morbidity-mortality after left colectomy are sparse and do not allow definitive conclusions to be drawn. We aimed to identify risk factors for anastomotic leakage, perioperative mortality and complications following left colectomy for colonic malignancies. Method We undertook a STROBE-compliant analysis of left colectomies included in a national prospective online database. Forty-two variables were analysed as potential independent risk factors for anastomotic leakage, postoperative morbidity and mortality. Variables were selected using the 'least absolute shrinkage and selection operator' (LASSO) method. Results We analysed 1111 patients. Eight per cent of patient…

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Additional file 1 of Relationship between time from symptom’s onset to diagnosis and prognosis in patients with symptomatic colorectal cancer

Additional file 1. Supplementary tables

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Impact of perioperative transfusions and sepsis on long-term oncologic outcomes after curative colon cancer resection. A retrospective analysis of a prospective database

Objective: Intra-abdominal septic complications (IASC) affect short-term outcomes after surgery for colon cancer. Blood transfusions have been associated with worse short-term results.The role of IASC and blood transfusions on long-term oncologic results is still debated. This study aims to assess the impact of these two variables on survival after curative colon cancer resection. Patients and methods: Retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database of patients who underwent curative surgery for colon cancer at a university hospital, between 1993 and 2010. Cox regression was used to identify the role of IASC and transfusions (alone and combined) on local recurrence (LR), disea…

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Relationship of curative surgery on natural killer cell activity in colorectal cancer.

Aim of this study has been to evaluate natural killer (NK) activity in patients with colorectal tumors before and after curative surgery.Forty colorectal cancer patients without distant metastases were stratified according to American Joint Committee on Cancer/International Union Against Cancer staging system into three categories: Stage I (n = 12), Stage II (n = 15), and Stage III (n = 13). All of them underwent curative resection, and there were no major postoperative complications. Venous blood samples were obtained preoperatively, at surgical wound closure, and on the 1st, 7th, and 21st postoperative days. Mononuclear cells were isolated over Ficoll-Hypaque (Lymphoprep, Nycomed Pharma A…

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Therapeutic effects of different doses of botulinum toxin in chronic anal fissure

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and manometric results of three different doses of botulinum toxin and two methods of injection for the treatment of chronic idiopathic anal fissure. METHODS: Sixty-nine patients with chronic anal fissure were included in a nonrandomized, prospective trial of intrasphincteric injection of botulinum toxin. All patients reported postdefecatory anal pain lasting more than two months. Scoring systems were developed for anal pain, bleeding, and defecatory difficulty. Maximum resting and squeeze anal pressures were determined before and one month after treatment. Twenty-three patients undergoing a 5-U injection of diluted botulinum toxin…

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Additional file 3 of Relationship between time from symptom’s onset to diagnosis and prognosis in patients with symptomatic colorectal cancer

Additional file 3. Supplementary fig 4

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The ideal lateral internal sphincterotomy: clinical and endosonographic evaluation following open and closed internal anal sphincterotomy

To evaluate the relationship between extent of internal sphincter division following open and closed sphincterotomy, as assessed by anal endosonography, with fissure persistence/recurrence and faecal incontinence.A total of 140 consecutive patients undergoing lateral internal sphincterotomy (LIS) for idiopathic chronic anal fissure were prospectively studied. Preoperative clinical assessment was performed together with a postoperative clinical and endosonographic examination. Three zones of the internal sphincter, identifiable by endosonography, were used to describe the uppermost extent of LIS. Primary end-points were fissure persistence/recurrence and faecal incontinence.A total of 140 pa…

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Detection of postoperative plasma circulating tumour DNA and lack of CDX2 expression as markers of recurrence in patients with localised colon cancer

BACKGROUND: Colon cancer (CC) is a heterogeneous disease. Novel prognostic factors beyond pathological staging are required to accurately identify patients at higher risk of relapse. Integrating these new biological factors, such as plasma circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA), CDX2 staining, inflammation-associated cytokines and transcriptomic consensus molecular subtypes (CMS) classification, into a multimodal approach may improve our accuracy in determining risk of recurrence.; METHODS: One hundred and fifty patients consecutively diagnosed with localised CC were prospectively enrolled in our study. ctDNA was tracked to detect minimal residual disease by droplet digital PCR. CDX2 expression was…

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Low miR200c expression in tumor budding of invasive front predicts worse survival in patients with localized colon cancer and is related to PD-L1 overexpression

At the histological level, tumor budding in colon cancer is the result of cells undergoing at least partial epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. The microRNA 200 family is an important epigenetic driver of this process, mainly by downregulating zinc-finger E-box binding homeobox (ZEB) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) expression. We retrospectively explored the expression of the miR200 family, and ZEB1 and ZEB2, and their relationship with immune resistance mediated through PD-L1 overexpression. For this purpose, we analyzed a series of 125 colon cancer cases and took samples from two different tumor sites: the area of tumor budding at the invasive front and from the tumor center…

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Effect of Intraperitoneal Sterile Urine Injection on Abdominal Myoelectrical Activity in the Spinal Rat Model

The abdominal muscle reflex contractions in response to intraperitoneal injection of homologous sterile urine and acid, alkaline, hypo- and hyperosmolar solutions are studied in an acute spinal rat model by conventional and integrated electromyographic techniques. Intraperitoneal injection of homologous sterile urine causes a powerful and almost immediate abdominal muscle contracture of relative short duration. This response seems not to be related to urine pH or osmolarity, since only when solutions with extreme variations in these parameters are injected intraperitoneally are significant abdominal muscle contractions observed.

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Management of intersphincteric abscesses.

Objective  Intersphincteric abscesses are relatively rare, and in some cases of upward extensions in the supralevator plane, can be difficult to manage. The aim of this study was to analyse the type of treatment used in these abscesses. Methods  Twenty-one intersphincteric abscesses treated by endoanal drainage in our colorectal unit between 1992 and 2004 were reviewed from our database; location and extension of the abscess, type of treatment and recurrence rates and the use of endoanal ultrasound were studied. Results  Ninety per cent of patients were male; 10 had a previous history of surgery for perianal abscess and suppuration (48%); 16 (76%) had a posterior location and five were ante…

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Long-term follow-up (42 months) of chronic anal fissure after healing with botulinum toxin.

Abstract Background & Aims: Botulinum toxin is an effective treatment in idiopathic chronic anal fissure, but the long-term outcome after healing is not well documented. We analyzed the long-term outcome of patients in whom an anal fissure had healed after botulinum toxin injection and the factors contributing to recurrence. Methods: Fifty-seven patients who had completely healed 6 months after injection of botulinum toxin were reassessed every 6 months. The follow-up was 42 months in all patients. Clinical and manometric differences between the permanently healed and the relapsed group were statistically analyzed. Results: Four patients were lost to follow-up. A fissure recurrence was show…

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Targeted next-generation sequencing of circulating-tumor DNA for tracking minimal residual disease in localized colon cancer.

A high percentage of patients diagnosed with localized colon cancer (CC) will relapse after curative treatment. Although pathological staging currently guides our treatment decisions, there are no biomarkers determining minimal residual disease (MRD) and patients are at risk of being undertreated or even overtreated with chemotherapy in this setting. Circulating-tumor DNA (ctDNA) can to be a useful tool to better detect risk of relapse.One hundred and fifty patients diagnosed with localized CC were prospectively enrolled in our study. Tumor tissue from those patients was sequenced by a custom-targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) panel to characterize somatic mutations. A minimum varian…

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Rectal advancement flaps for the treatment of transphincteric perianal fistulas: a three-dimensional endoanal ultrasound and quality of life assessment.

This study quantifies the damage to the internal anal sphincter (IAS) after a rectal mucosal advancement flap for a high transphincteric fistula in 16 patients using 3D-endoanal ultrasound. This was correlated with postoperative incontinence and quality of life scores. The median length of involved IAS preoperatively was 50 % (20-100) and 93.72 % for EAS (47.4-100 %). IAS division did not influence continence (p > 0.05). Continence deteriorated between the pre-, postoperative (p = 0.014) and six-month follow-up (p = 0.005), with no significant differences after one year (p > 0.05). The FIQOL score and SF-36 deteriorated initially, with recovery in all domains except for mental health after …

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Impact of surgeon organization and specialization in rectal cancer outcome.

Purpose The present study was designed to assess the differences in the outcome of patients with rectal cancer treated by a group of surgeons before and after being organized as a Coloproctology Unit at the same University Department of Surgery. Methods Comparison of two periods of rectal cancer surgery: I (1986–91) and II (1992–95). Period I: 94 patients were operated on by 14 general surgeons. Period II: 108 patients were operated on by only 4 surgeons of the same group organized as a Colorectal Surgery Unit after visiting referral centres abroad, adopting techniques such as total mesorectal excision (TME) for middle and low rectal cancer and washout of rectal stump. Mean follow-up during…

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A Prospective Audit of the Complications of Loop Ileostomy Construction and Takedown

<i>Aim:</i> A prospective review of the complications of ileostomy construction and takedown. <i>Materials and Methods:</i> One hundred twenty-seven consecutive patients undergoing construction of a loop ileostomy were included in a prospective nonrandomized computer database. Complications of the loop ileostomy were assessed prior to and after closure. Three closure techniques were performed [enterotomy suture (25.7%), resection and hand sewn (31.2%) or stapled anastomosis (43.1%)] and compared. <i>Results:</i> One hundred twenty-seven (73 male, 54 female) patients, mean age 54 years were included from 1992 to 2002. Seventy-two patients underwent anterio…

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Anal endosonographic evaluation after closed lateral subcutaneous sphincterotomy

PURPOSE: The present study was undertaken to evaluate anal endosonographic results of the transverse and longitudinal extent of internal anal sphincter division after closed lateral subcutaneous sphincterotomy and its relationship to outcome with respect to anal fissure recurrence and postoperative anal incontinence. METHODS: Ten patients selected for symptomatic anal fissure recurrence (mean follow-up, 10.9 months) and 41 asymptomatic control patients (mean follow-up, 15.5 months) were reviewed by anal endosonography after closed lateral subcutaneous sphincterotomy. Clinical evaluation was focused on anal fissure recurrence and postoperative anal incontinence. The anal endosonographic stud…

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Anastomotic leakage after colon cancer resection: does the individual surgeon matter?

Aim Anastomotic leakage is one of the most feared complications after colonic resection. Many risk factors for anastomotic leakage have been reported, but the impact of an individual surgeon as a risk factor has scarcely been reported. The aim of this study was to assess if the individual surgeon is an independent risk factor for anastomotic leakage in colonic cancer surgery. Method This was a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from patients who underwent elective resection for colon cancer with anastomosis at a specialized colorectal unit from January 1993 to December 2010. Anastomotic leaks were diagnosed according to standardized criteria. Patient and tumour character…

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Botulinum Toxin Injection Plus Topical Diltiazem for Chronic Anal Fissure: A Randomized Double-Blind Clinical Trial and Long-term Outcome.

BACKGROUND: Chemical sphincterotomy avoids the risk of permanent incontinence in the treatment of chronic anal fissure, but it does not reach the efficacy of surgery and recurrence is high. Drug combination has been proposed to overcome these drawbacks.; OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the clinical, morphological, and functional effects of combined therapy with botulinum toxin injection and topical diltiazem in chronic anal fissure and to assess the long-term outcome after healing.; DESIGN: This is a randomized, controlled, double-blind, 2-arm, parallel-group trial with a long-term follow-up.; SETTINGS: This study was conducted at a tertiary care center.; PATIENTS: A total of 70 cons…

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Simple technique for the intraoperative detection of Crohn's strictures with a calibration sphere.

Several methods have been used to detect and evaluate small-bowel strictures in Crohn's disease. We describe a simple technique for the calibration of strictures using a 2.5-cm medical plastic sphere. This method provides an aseptic, safe, and effective calibration of the entire small bowel.

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Additional file 2 of Relationship between time from symptom’s onset to diagnosis and prognosis in patients with symptomatic colorectal cancer

Additional file 2. Supplementary figures 1-3

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Selective approach for upper rectal cancer treatment: total mesorectal excision and preoperative chemoradiation are seldom necessary.

The implementation of preoperative chemoradiation combined with total mesorectal excision has reduced local recurrence rates in rectal cancer. However, the use of both types of treatment in upper rectal cancer is controversial.The purpose of this work was to assess oncological results after radical resection of upper rectal cancers compared with sigmoid, middle, and lower rectal cancers and to determine risk factors for local recurrence in upper rectal cancer.This was a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data.This study was conducted in a tertiary care referral hospital in Valencia, Spain.Analysis included 1145 patients who underwent colorectal resection with primary curative…

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Relationship between time from symptom's onset to diagnosis and prognosis in patients with symptomatic colorectal cancer

Multicenter study [Abstract] Background: Controversy exists regarding the relationship of the outcome of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) with the time from symptom onset to diagnosis. The aim of this study is to investigate this association, with the assumption that this relationship was nonlinear and with adjustment for multiple confounders, such as tumor grade, symptoms, or admission to an emergency department. Methods: This multicenter study with prospective follow-up was performed in five regions of Spain from 2010 to 2012. Symptomatic cases of incident CRC from a previous study were examined. At the time of diagnosis, each patient was interviewed, and the associated hospital and …

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Individual surgeon is an independent risk factor for leak after double-stapled colorectal anastomosis: An institutional analysis of 800 patients

Background. Our aim was to assess whether the individual surgeon is an independent risk factor for anastomotic leak in double-stapled colorectal anastomosis after left colon and rectal cancer resection. Methods. This retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database consists of a consecutive series of 800 patients who underwent an elective left colon and rectal resection with a colorectal, double-stapled anastomosis between 1993 and 2009 in a specialized colorectal unit of a tertiary hospital with 7 participating surgeons. The main outcome variable was anastomotic leak, defined as leak of luminal contents from a colorectal anastomosis between 2 hollow viscera diagnosed radiologic…

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Integrating Downstaging in the Risk Assessment of Patients With Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer Treated With Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy: Validation of Valentini's Nomograms and the Neoadjuvant Rectal Score

Abstract Background Adjuvant chemotherapy is controversial in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer after preoperative chemoradiation. Valentini et al developed 3 nomograms (VN) to predict outcomes in these patients. The neoadjuvant rectal score (NAR) was developed after VN to predict survival. We aimed to validate these tools in a retrospective cohort at an academic institution. Patients and Methods VN and the NAR were applied to 158 consecutive patients with locally advanced rectal cancer treated with chemoradiation followed by surgery. According to the score, they were divided into low, intermediate, or high risk of relapse or death. For statistical analysis, we performed Kaplan-M…

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