Low anterior rectal resection; the impact of anastomotic fistula on incidence and severity of low anterior resection syndrome

Objectives. Low anterior resection is a common surgical procedure for rectal cancer, but it is associated with a distressing complication known as Low Anterior Resection Syndrome (LARS). The incidence of LARS varies, with severe symptoms persisting in some patients even years after surgery. This study aimed to investigate the association between anastomotic leak and LARS severity in rectal cancer patients. Methods. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 100 rectal cancer patients who underwent LAR between 2017 and 2021. Patients were categorized based on LARS questionnaire responses into groups with anastomotic leakage and LARS, LARS alone, or no LARS. Various factors, including demographics, comorbidities, tumor characteristics, and surgical details, were analyzed for their association with LARS. Results. In our study, anastomotic leakage was observed in 23 patients, and 17 of them subsequently developed LARS. Male gender, age over 70, and neoadjuvant therapy were identified as risk factors for LARS. Additionally, LARS was more prevalent in patients with medium and low rectal cancers and those with a protective ostomy. Conclusion. Our findings suggest that male sex and neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy are associated with the development of LARS in rectal cancer patients undergoing low anterior resection. The timing of stoma closure and the extent of neorectal reservoir may also impact LARS severity

Therapeutic Options in Postoperative Enterocutaneous Fistula—A Retrospective Case Series

Objectives: The aim of the study was to present the results obtained in our experiment regarding the management of postoperative enterocutaneous fistulas (PECF). Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective study on 64 PECF registered after 2030 abdominal surgeries (1525 digestive tract surgeries and 505 extra-digestive ones) over a period of 7 years (1st of January 2014–31th of December 2020) in the 1st and 2nd Surgery Clinics, Clinical County Emergency Hospital of Craiova, Romania. The group included 41 men (64.06%) and 23 women (35.34%), aged between 21–94 years. Of the cases, 71.85% occurred in elderly patients over 65 years old. Spontaneous fistulas in Crohn’s disease, intestinal diverticulosis, or specific inflammatory bowel disease were excluded. Results: The overall incidence of 3.15% varied according to the surgery type: 6.22% after gastroduodenal surgery, 1.78% after enterectomies, 4.30% after colorectal surgery, 4.28% after bilio-digestive anastomoses, and 0.39% after extra-digestive surgery. We recorded a 70.31% fistula closure rate, 78.94% after exclusive conservative treatment and 57.61% after surgery; morbidity was 79.68%, mortality was 29.68%. Conclusion: PECF management requires a multidisciplinary approach and is carried out according to an algorithm underlying well-established objectives and priorities. Conservative treatment including resuscitation, sepsis control, output control, skin protection, and nutritional support is the first line treatment; surgery is reserved for complications or permanent repair of fistulas that do not close under conservative treatment. The therapeutic strategy is adapted to topography, morphological characteristics and fistula output, age, general condition, and response to therapy

Cardiopulmonary Arrest Caused by Large Substernal Goiter—Treatment with Combined Cervical Approach and Median Mini-Sternotomy: Report of a Case

Introduction: Substernal goiter is usually defined as a goiter that extends below the thoracic inlet or a goiter with more than 50% of its mass lying below the thoracic inlet. Substernal goiters may compress adjacent anatomical structures causing a variety of symptoms. Case report: Here we report a rare case of a 75-year-old woman presenting with cardiac arrest caused by acute respiratory failure due to tracheal compression by a substernal goiter. Discussion: Substernal goiters can be classified as primary or secondary depending on their site of origin. Symptoms are diverse and include a palpable neck mass, mild dyspnea to asphyxia, dysphagia, dysphonia, and superior vena cava syndrome. Diagnosis of substernal goiter is largely based on computed tomography imaging, which will show the location of the goiter and its extension in the thoracic cavity. Surgery is the treatment of choice for symptomatic patients with substernal goiter. The majority of substernal goiters are resected through a cervical approach. However, in approximately 5% of patients, a thoracic approach is required. The most important factor determining whether a thoracic approach should be used is the depth of the extension to the tracheal bifurcation on CT imaging. Conclusion: Cardiac arrest appearing as the first symptom of a substernal goiter is a very rare condition and should be treated by emergency thyroidectomy via a cervical or thoracic approach depending on the CT imaging findings