Results after change of treatment policy for rectal cancer – report from a single hospital in China

Long-term outcomes after extra-levator versus conventional abdominoperineal excision for low rectal cancer

Purpose

Extralevator (ELAPE) and abdominoperineal excision (APE) are two major surgical approaches for low rectal cancer patients. Although excellent short-term efficacy is achieved in patients undergoing ELAPE, the long-term benefits have not been established. In this study we evaluated the safety, pathological and survival outcomes in rectal cancer patients who underwent ELAPE and APE.

Methods

One hundred fourteen patients were enrolled, including 68 in the ELAPE group and 46 in the APE group at the Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2011 to November 2020. The baseline characteristics, overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) were calculated and compared between the two groups.

Results

Demographics and tumor stage were comparable between the two groups. The 5-year PFS (67.2% versus 38.6%, log-rank P = 0.008) were significantly improved in the ELAPE group compared to the APE group, and the survival advantage was especially reflected in patients with pT3 tumors, positive lymph nodes or even those who have not received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Multivariate analysis showed that APE was an independent risk factor for OS (hazard ratio 3.000, 95% confidence interval 1.171 to 4.970, P = 0.004) and PFS (hazard ratio 2.730, 95% confidence interval 1.506 to 4.984, P = 0.001).

Conclusion

 Compared with APE, ELAPE improved long-term outcomes for low rectal cancer patients, especially among patients with pT3 tumors, positive lymph nodes or those without neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12893-022-01692-y.

Effects of continuous care on health outcomes in patients with stoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective

Continuing care, which is an extension of post-discharge care, is recognized as a crucial element of high-quality health services and is essential to patients. This systematic review aims to identify the effectiveness of continuing care for patients with stomas.

Methods

PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Trial Register and Web of Science databases were searched. Study selection and quality appraisal were performed independently by two reviewers. We calculated the mean differences (MD) or the relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence intervals and assessed heterogeneity.

Results

Nine studies (1134 participants) met the inclusion criteria. This meta-analysis revealed that, in the continuous care group, the stoma self-efficacy (MD ​= ​6.46; 95% CI ​= ​3.81–9.11; P ​< ​0.001; I² ​= ​0%), and the quality of life (MD ​= ​7.48; 95% CI ​= ​5.13–9.82; P ​< ​0.001; I² ​= ​0%) increased significantly 1 month after discharge; stoma adjustment and care satisfaction also showed a trend toward improvement while stoma complications (RR ​= ​0.71; 95% CI ​= ​0.58–0.87; P ​= ​0.001; I² ​= ​25%) decreased significantly. Continuing care did not decrease hospital readmission rates or medical costs.

Conclusions

Continuing care showed beneficial effects in improving health outcomes and care satisfaction for patients with stomas compared with routine care. We proposed an integrated continuing care program with different elements and recommendations for its implementation.

The Effects of Continuous Care Model of Information-Based Hospital-Family Integration on Colostomy Patients: a Randomized Controlled Trial

The purpose of this research was to examine the effects of continuous care model of information-based hospital-family integration on colostomy patients. Miles' operation is a major operative method for treating low rectal cancer, and this operation results in a permanent colostomy. It is difficult for patients to adapt to their colostomy. Previous studies have applied generally conventional nursing models to colostomy patients. This was a single-blind randomized controlled trial study. The sample of 155 patients who met the inclusion criteria was randomly assigned to either the experimental (n = 81) or control group (n = 74). The control group was provided with a routine standard of care. The experimental group was provided with an experimental treatment that consisted of an information-based (WeChat, blog, QQ, telephone, etc.) hospital-family integration continuous care model. Study variables were collected and instruments were selected as follows: basic information, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), a self-efficacy scale, a colostomy complication assessment table, a quality of life scale, and a table of the degree of satisfaction. No statistically significant differences were found in demographic information between the experimental and control groups. In comparison with the control group, subjects in the experimental group had less anxiety and could better cope with anxiety, had a better self-efficacy and quality of life scores, and had fewer complications. The patients in the experimental group were shown to be more satisfied with the care model. In addition, the most useful and popular service is the online social tools WeChat and QQ, because they can communicate with video, and they are more real-time, efficient, and cheap. The continuous care model of information-based hospital-family integration significantly strengthened patients' self-efficacy and confidence, which decreased colostomy complications, ultimately improving the quality of life.

Current status of rectal cancer treatment in China

AIM

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the fourth most common carcinoma in China. For economic reasons, a national CRC registry has not been established and a large-scale screening programme has not been implemented.

METHOD

Clinical studies (since 2000) of CRC epidemiology which originated from China were summarized, and data was analyzed.

RESULTS

In China, the majority of hospitals in central cities and even in county hospitals are able to provide medical care for CRC patients. Due to socio-economic disparities, medical conditions and skill level, there is a wide variation in the treatment. Most oncologists make their clinical decisions based on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines, although some domestic guidelines are now available. On 11 October 2011, the China Ministry of Health released national guidelines for CRC treatment. Owing to language difficulties, research on CRC in China has only had a limited exposure in the international literature, due in some part to lack of understanding of the current position in the country.

CONCLUSION

The national guidelines for CRC treatment will give a degree of standardization of the treatment of CRC nationwide and will ensure that higher quality care will be available, especially in rural areas. Chinese colorectal surgeons urgently need to exchange their knowledge and experience with international colleagues.

Lymph node distribution and pattern of metastases in the mesorectum following total mesorectal excision using the modified fat clearing technique

AIM

To define the distribution, size, location and metastasis of lymph nodes (LNs) within the mesorectum from rectal cancer specimens following total mesorectal excision (TME) surgery without neoadjuvant therapy.

METHODS

Specimens from 60 patients who underwent TME were treated with modified fat clearing solution to retrieve LNs. The mesorectum was divided into right lateral, anterior, posterior and left lateral sides, which were further subdivided into three levels (upper, middle and lower).

RESULTS

1436 LNs were harvested, including 985 small LNs (<5 mm in size). The number of LNs from the anterior, posterior and bilateral mesorectum was 125 (8.7%), 696 (48.5%) and 615 (42.8%), respectively. In the longitudinal axis, the difference in distribution at the three levels was not significant. 200 LN metastases (mLNs) were detected in 33 patients. 48% (96/200) of these were small LNs. More mLNs, especially small LNs, were shown in the more advanced T stage patients. The mLN metastasis rate was not influenced by tumour level.

CONCLUSION

Small LN detection increased the accuracy of N staging by 20% in this study. The incidence of metastasis was the same among the anterior, bilateral and posterior areas of the mesorectum. An increased incidence of mLN metastasis in small LNs was associated with more advanced T staging. mLN metastasis rates in both middle and low rectal cancer were higher in the distal mesorectum than that in the proximal mesorectum. LN number and density were not consistent with spread of the primary tumour. Distal mLNs were found in 35% of cases of both middle and distal rectal cancer, implying a need for TME in both.

The impact of the introduction of total mesorectal excision on local recurrence rate and survival in rectal cancer: long-term results

PURPOSE

To investigate the influence of the introduction of total mesorectal excision (TME) on local recurrence rate and survival in patients with rectal cancer.

METHODS

A total of 171 consecutive patients underwent anterior or abdominoperineal resection for primary rectal cancer. When the TME technique was introduced, the clinical setting, including the surgeons, remained the same. Group 1 (1993-95, n =53) underwent conventional surgery and group 2 (1995-2001, n = 118) underwent TME. All patients were followed for 7 years or until death.

RESULTS

Between the two groups, no statistically significant differences were present with regards to patient-, treatment-, or tumor-related characteristics apart from the time point of radiotherapy. The total local recurrence rates were 11 of 53 (20.8%) in group 1 and 7 of 118 (5.9%) in group 2, and the rates of isolated local recurrences were 6 of 53 (11.3%) in group 1 and 2 of 118 (1.7%) in group 2. Both differences were highly statistically significant. The disease-free survival in groups 1 and 2 was 60.4 and 65.3% at 5 years, and 58.5 and 65.3% at 7 years, respectively. Excluding patients with synchronous or metachronous distant metastasis from the analysis, both the disease-free survival and the cancer-specific survival were statistically significantly better in group 2 than in group 1. No statistically significant difference between the two groups was detected regarding the overall survival.

CONCLUSIONS

The introduction of TME led to an impressive reduction of the local recurrence rate. Survival is mainly determined by the occurrence of distant metastasis, but TME seems to improve survival in patients without systemic disease.