One-Stage Colectomy with Intraoperative Colonic Irrigation for Acute Left-Sided Malignant Colonic Obstruction

Intraoperative Colonic Irrigation for Low Rectal Resections With Primary Anastomosis: A Fail-Safe Surgical Model

Aim

Regardless the technological developments in surgery, the anastomotic leakage (AL) rate of low rectal anastomosis remains high. Though various perioperative protocols have been tested to reduce the risk for AL, there is no standard peri-operative management approach in rectal surgery. We aim to assess the short-term outcome of a multidisciplinary approach to reduce the rates of ALs using a fail-safe-model using preoperative and intraoperative colonic irrigation in low rectal resections with primary anastomosis.

Methods

Between January 2015 and December 2020, 92 patients received low rectal resections for rectal cancer with primary anastomosis and diverting ileostomy. All these patients received pre-operative mechanical bowel preparation (MBP) without antibiotics as well as intraoperative colonic irrigation. The intraoperative colonic irrigation was performed via the efferent loop of the ileostomy. All data were analyzed by SPSS for descriptive and inferential analyses.

Results

In the study period, 1.987 colorectal surgical procedures were performed. This study reports AL in 3 (3.3%) of 92 recruited patients. Other postoperative complications (Dindo-Clavien I-IV) were reported in 25 patients (27.2%), which occurred mainly due to non-surgical reasons such as renal dysfunction and sepsis. According to the fail-safe model, AL was treated by endoscopic or re-do surgery. The median postoperative length of hospitalization was 8 days (4–45) days.

Conclusion

This study validates the effectiveness of a multi-disciplinary fail-safe model with a pre-operative MBP and an intraoperative colonic irrigation in reducing AL rates. Intraoperative colonic irrigation is a feasible approach that lowers the AL rates by reducing fecal load and by decontamination of the colon and anastomotic region. Our study does not recommend a pre-operative administration of oral antibiotics for colorectal decontamination.

Long-term outcome after one-stage surgery without preoperative decompression for stage II/III malignant colorectal obstruction: a propensity score-matched analysis

PURPOSE

Whether malignant colorectal obstruction (MCO) after one-stage curative surgery without preoperative decompression has a poor prognosis remains unclear. We assessed long-term outcomes of one-stage surgery without preoperative decompression for stage II/III MCO.

METHODS

We retrospectively enrolled patients with stage II/III colorectal cancer (CRC) between April 2011 and December 2017. Propensity score-matched (PSM) analysis was used to reduce the possibility of selection bias.

RESULTS

In total, 464 stage II/III CRC patients were identified, of which 145 (31%) had obstruction (MCO group) and 319 (69%) did not (non-MCO group). In the MCO group, 59 (40.7%) had emergency MCO (E-MCO) and 86 (59.3%) had semi-emergency MCO (SE-MCO). The median follow-up was 37.0 (range 0-86.5) months. The tumor was deeper and larger, and serum carcinoembryonic antigen level was higher (p < 0.001, respectively) in the MCO group (including E-MCO and SE-MCO). Venous invasion-positivity rate was significantly higher (MCO and SE-MCO only, p = 0.003 and 0.009, respectively) than that in the non-MCO group. Laparoscopic surgery rate was significantly lower (MCO and E-MCO only, p < 0.001) than that in the non-MCO group. Before PSM, disease-free survival (DFS) of the SE-MCO patients was worse than that of the non-MCO patients (p = 0.046). After PSM, DFS was not significantly different between the non-MCO and MCO, E-MCO, and SE-MCO groups (p = 0.619, 0.091, and 0.308, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term prognosis in patients with stage II/III MCO after one-stage surgery without preoperative decompression was similar to that in patients without MCO.

Preoperative Colonic Decompression With Decompression Tube Insertion Versus Stent Insertion in Patients With Malignant Left Colonic Obstruction

PURPOSE

To compare the clinical effectiveness of preoperative colonic decompression (PCD) performed with stent or decompression tube insertion in patients with malignant left colonic obstruction (MLCO).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between September 2014 and September 2018, 63 patients with MLCO underwent PCD (decompression tube: 35; stent: 28) in our center. Elective surgery was performed for patients with clinical success of PCD.

RESULTS

The rates of technical success for PCD with tube and stent insertion were 91.4% (32/35) and 96.4% (27/28), respectively (P=0.773). Clinical success rates for PCD with tube and stent insertion were 90.6% (29/32) and 85.2% (23/27), respectively (P=0.811). Tumor resection with primary anastomosis was performed in all patients with clinical success in both groups. No significant differences were found between 2 groups regarding the duration of surgery and rates of postoperative complications.

CONCLUSION

Decompression tube and stent insertion had similar effectiveness for PCD in patients with MLCO.

Primary Surgery for Malignant Large Bowel Obstruction: Postoperative Nasogastric Tube Reinsertion is Not Mandatory

BACKGROUND

Malignant large bowel obstructions frequently require emergency surgery. Compliance with enhanced recovery after surgery programmes is significantly reduced due to non-removal of the nasogastric tube in the postoperative period. The first aim of the present study was to research factors associated with the failure of immediate nasogastric tube removal in patients who had undergone emergency surgery for malignant large bowel obstruction. The second aim was to assess the morbidity linked to nasogastric tube reinsertion.

METHODS

This retrospective and monocentric study included all consecutive patients admitted for acute malignant large bowel obstruction who underwent emergency surgery. Patients who were not primarily operated on were excluded (n = 178; 69.3%). The group of patients requiring nasogastric tube (NGT) reinsertion was compared with the group that did not require NGT reinsertion.

RESULTS

Seventy-nine patients underwent emergency surgery, of which 18 (22.8%) required nasogastric tube reinsertion. There was no difference between the two groups with regard to (a) immediate nasogastric tube removal (p = 0.87) and (b) inclusion in an enhanced recovery programme (p = 0.75). However, preoperative small bowel dilatation was associated with a reduction in the need for NGT reinsertion (p = 0.04). A left-sided tumour was also associated with the need for NGT reinsertion in uni- (p = 0.034) and multivariate analysis (OR = 8; p < 0.05). Surgical access and procedure were not significantly associated with NGT reinsertion. The postoperative course influenced NGT reinsertion, which was significantly associated with postoperative ileus (OR = 4; p < 0.05) and postoperative morbidity (OR = 4; p < 0.05). Morbidity was not linked to nasogastric tube removal.

CONCLUSION

Nasogastric tube reinsertion was not affected by immediate removal of the tube. Left-sided tumours and patients at risk of postoperative ileus should be managed with caution. Immediate nasogastric tube removal is not contraindicated in the case of large bowel obstruction because it is not associated with a higher risk of NGT reinsertion.

The Usefulness of Intraoperative Colonic Irrigation and Primary Anastomosis in Patients Requiring a Left Colon Resection

PURPOSE

The aim of this study is to assess the short-term outcome of intraoperative colonic irrigation and primary anastomosis and to suggest the usefulness of the procedure when a preoperative mechanical bowel preparation is inappropriate.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 38 consecutive patients (19 male patients) who underwent intraoperative colonic irrigation and primary anastomosis for left colon disease between January 2010 and December 2016. The medical records of the patients were reviewed to evaluate the patients' characteristics, operative data, and postoperative short-term outcomes.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine patients had colorectal cancer, 7 patients had perforated diverticulitis, and the remaining 2 patients included 1 with sigmoid volvulus and 1 with a perforated colon due to focal colonic ischemia. A diverting loop ileostomy was created in 4 patients who underwent a low anterior resection. Complications occurred in 15 patients (39.5%), and the majority was superficial surgical site infections (18.4%). Anastomotic leakage occurred in one patient (2.6%) who underwent an anterior resection due sigmoid colon cancer with obstruction. No significant difference in overall postoperative complications and superficial surgical site infections between patients with obstruction and those with peritonitis were noted. No mortality occurred during the first 30 postoperative days. The median hospital stay after surgery was 15 days (range, 8-39 days).

CONCLUSION

Intraoperative colonic irrigation and primary anastomosis seem safe and feasible in selected patients. This procedure may reduce the burden of colostomy in patients requiring a left colon resection with an inappropriate preoperative mechanical bowel preparation.

Managing Malignant Colorectal Obstruction with Self-Expanding Stents. A Closer Look at Bowel Perforations and Failed Procedures

Stent treatment of large bowel obstruction is still controversial. There are concerns regarding complications, particularly bowel perforation, as well as long-term outcome in curable patients. Through a 10-year retrospective study, we have evaluated efficacy, complications, delay in surgical interventions and stent patency in cases of palliative treatment. We treated 183 patients, 85 as bridge to surgery and 98 as definitive, palliative treatment. At presentation, 58 % of patients had advanced local or metastatic disease. Seventeen patients required more than one stent insertion. The total number of procedures was 213. We recorded technical and clinical success or failure, complications, necessity of restenting or surgical intervention, mortality and stent patency in the palliation group. Stenting was clinically successful in 89 % of the bridge to surgery group and 86 % of the palliative group. Complications occurred in 7 %, including 12 perforations. Six patients suffered an early perforation, of which two died. Half of the six late perforations were silent. Procedure related mortality was 1 %. The clinical success rate was high in both the palliative and bridge to surgery setting. The complication rate was low, and the sum of early and late perforations was 5.6 %. Procedure related mortality was low.