Detecting curable disease following hepatectomy for colorectal metastases

Introduction: Although resection may be curative for patients with hepatic colorectal metastases, recurrence occurs in the majority. Recurrence is occasionally amenable to repeated resection. The aim of the present study was to evaluate which modalities, at what intervals, detected potentially curable resection. Methods: The records of patients undergoing hepatectomy for colorectal metastases over 10 years in one centre were retrospectively reviewed to determine when and how recurrence was diagnosed. Specific attention was paid to the detection of potentially curable disease. Results: Of 41 recurrences, 22 occurred in the first year postoperatively, 21 of which were suitable for palliative treatment only. Ten of 19 recurrences occurring after 1 year underwent potentially curative intervention, 10 were diagnosed by computed tomography (CT). Carcinoembryonic antigen did not diagnose any curable recurrence. Conclusions: A follow-up protocol is proposed, based on annual CT.Matthew Metcalfe, Chris Mann, Emma Mullin and Guy Madder

Wound infection following stoma takedown: primary skin closure versus subcuticular purse-string suture.

Abstract: Background Stoma closure has been associated with a high rate of surgical site infection (SSI) and the ideal stoma-site skin closure technique is still debated. The aim of this study was to compare the rate of SSI following primary skin closure (PC) versus a skin-approximating, subcuticular purse-string closure (APS). Methods All consecutive patients undergoing stoma closure between 2002 and 2007 by two surgeons at a single tertiary-care institution were retrospectively assessed. Patients who had a new stoma created at the same site or those without wound closure were excluded. The end point was SSI, determined according to current CDC guidelines, at the stoma closure site and/or the midline laparotomy incision. Results There were 61 patients in the PC group (surgeon A: 58 of 61) and 17 in the APS group (surgeon B: 16 of 17). The two groups were similar in baseline and intraoperative characteristics, except that patients in the PC group were more often diagnosed with benign disease (p = 0.0156) and more often had a stapled anastomosis (p = 0.002). The overall SSI rate was 14 of 78 (18%). All SSIs occurred in the PC group (14 of 61 vs. 0 of 17, p = 0.03). Conclusions Our study suggests that a skin-approximating closure with a subcuticular purse-string of the stoma site leads to less SSI than a primary closure. Randomized studies are needed to confirm our findings and assess additional end points such as healing time, cost, and patient satisfaction

Morbimortalidade da reconstrução de transito intestinal colônica em hospital universitário: análise de 42 casos

OBJETIVOS: Analisar as características demográficas, a mortalidade e morbidade associada ao procedimento. MÉTODOS: Estudo retrospectivo dos casos de reconstrução intestinal colônica um hospital universitário. Todos os pacientes tiveram o cólon preparado por solução de manitol. RESULTADOS: Do total de 42 pacientes, 80,9% (n=34) eram do sexo masculino com idade média de 42 anos. Causas que levaram a confecção da ostomia: 50% traumáticas, 29% abdome agudo clínico. A colostomia terminal foi o tipo de ostomia preferencialmente realizada em 65% dos casos acompanhado pela colostomia em alça com 35% dos casos. A técnica empregada para a anastomose foi predominantemente a manual, realizada em 69,05% dos casos (n=29). O tempo médio de internação hospitalar foi de 8,74 dias. O índice de morbidade global foi de 26,2% (n=11), destacando-se a reoperação em 9,52% (n=4) e a fístula em 7,14% (n=3) dos casos. Não ocorreu infecção de ferida operatória nessa série. A mortalidade foi de 2,38% (n=1). CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados obtidos em um hospital universitário são semelhantes aos relatados na literatura mundial. Cuidados pré e pós operatórios adequados se somam a experiência do cirurgião nas cirurgias de reconstrução de trânsito. A escolha da técnica cirúrgica deve ser padronizada através de trabalho randomizado, permitindo adoção de protocolo.<br>OBJECTIVES: To study demographyc caractheristics, morbidity and mortality associated to the procedure. METHODS: Retrospective study of colostomy closure in 42 patients. Male sex was predominant (80,9%) with median age of 42 years. Causes of colostomy were traumatic in 50% and clinic acute abdomen in 29% of the cases. Terminal colostomy was the more frequent procedure (65%) followed by loop colostomy in 35% of the cases. The predominant anastomotic technique was manual (69,05%). The morbidity rate was 26,2%, including reoperation (9,52%) and colonic fistulae in 7,14% cases. No postoperative wound infection was observed. Overall mortality rate was 2,38%. CONCLUSION: The results observed in a university hospital are as good as reported in world literature. Adequate pre and postoperative care works together with surgeon experience on colostomy closure surgeries. The surgical technique must be adopted using a randomized study, allowing establishment of a protocol