Preoperative assessment and optimisation for pelvic exenteration in locally advanced and recurrent rectal cancer: A review

Implementing a physiotherapy-led prehabilitation service and improving inpatient rehabilitation for people with complex colorectal cancer: a service evaluation project

Background/Aims

Prehabilitation improves pre-operative functional status which improves post-operative outcomes. There is limited evidence on the role prehabilitation for people with locally advanced or recurrent colorectal cancer and because of the complex nature of the surgery, patients have particular need for optimisation and specialist rehabilitation. A service evaluation was implemented to evaluate the impact of prehabilitation and increased post-operative rehabilitation in those with locally advanced or recurrent colorectal cancer.

Methods

Exercise-based prehabilitation and an increase in inpatient rehabilitation was implemented for those referred to the complex colorectal cancer clinic (n=59). Hospital length of stay and number of inpatient physiotherapy contacts (therapy sessions) were collected between May 2021 and May 2022 and compared to retrospective data of 44 people who underwent surgery between 2018 and 2019 to help evaluate this project. A range of secondary outcome measures were also collected to assess the impact of prehabilitation, including the European Organisation for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core-30, 30-Second Sit-to-Stand Test, Duke Activity Status Index and a patient questionnaire. Paired sample t-tests were performed to compare the total hospital length of stay for all patients in the retrospective 2018–2019 data group with the prehabilitation data group from 2021–2022.

Results

A total of 59 patients entered the service between May 2021 and May 2022. A significant difference between the length of stay in the two groups was found (P<0.05, t=0.731). Improvements in the Sit-to-Stand Test and Duke Activity Status Index were demonstrated (P<0.001). Data from the European Organisation for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core-30 showed small but not significant reductions in the severity of physical, fatigue, pain and appetite functioning scales. For the more complex patients, average weekly inpatient physiotherapy contacts per person increased from three in 2018–2019 to seven in 2021–2022. Patient compliance and satisfaction was high following implementation of the service development project.

Conclusions

Prehabilitation improves pre-operative functional status and combined with effective inpatient rehabilitation, may reduce hospital length of stay for those undergoing complex colorectal cancer surgery.

Implications for practice

Services that offer surgery for locally advanced or recurrent colorectal cancer should consider implementing a prehabilitation programme to improve pre-operative functional status. For those undergoing more complex surgeries, increased post-operative rehabilitation provision should be considered, as combined with prehabilitation, it may reduce hospital length of stay.

Patient-Reported Outcomes in Chinese Patients with Locally Advanced or Recurrent Colorectal Cancer After Pelvic Exenteration

BACKGROUND

Pelvic exenteration (PE) is often the only curative treatment option for selected locally advanced and locally recurrent colorectal cancer associated with significant morbidity. Open and laparoscopic approaches were accepted for this procedure.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to examine the Chinese patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after PE.

METHODS

A total of 122 enrolled participants were asked to complete PROs at baseline and 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after PE. PROs included seven symptoms from the National Cancer Institute's Patient-Reported Outcomes version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (PRO-CTCAE). The HRQoL was assessed using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Colorectal (FACT-C).

RESULTS

The overall postoperative complication rate was 41.0%. Patients experienced lower physical and functional well-being and FACT-C 1 month after surgery, then gradually recovered. The FACT-C score returned to baseline 9 months after surgery. Social and emotional well-being did not show signs of recovery until 6 months after the surgical procedure, and did not fully return to baseline until 12 months post-surgery. Symptom rates of insomnia, anxiety, discouragement, and sadness (composite score >0) did not improve significantly from baseline until 12 months after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

PE is a feasible treatment choice for locally advanced primary and recurrent colorectal cancer. Social, psychological, and emotional recovery in the Chinese population after PE tends to be slower compared with the physical condition.

Serving Queensland: reflecting on geographical access to the pelvic exenteration service in Queensland

BACKGROUND

Pelvic exenteration for rectal cancer involves a radical multi-visceral resection to improve complete surgical clearance, and access is limited within Queensland.

METHODS

A retrospective review of a prospective database of the referrals to the pelvic exenteration service in the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital from 2009 to2023. Geographic, as well as clinical and demographic information was collected.

RESULTS

One hundred and seventy six patients were referred to the pelvic exenterations service. In total 93 patients were referred from a major city, 52 from inner regional areas, and 31 from outer regional or remote areas. One hundred and three referred patients (58.5%) proceeded to surgery, significantly more of whom were referred from a major city (P < 0.001). Of the patients referred from outer regional, inner regional, and major cities, a similar proportion of patients proceeded to surgery (55%, 52%, and 63.4%). Patients not proceeding to surgery in major cities and inner regional areas were most commonly unfit to proceed, whereas in outer regional areas most patients decided against surgery (61.5%). In the 14-year period, overall referrals increased, with inner regional referrals increasing the most over time. Overall survival was not significantly impacted by remoteness.

CONCLUSION

Awareness of the pelvic exenteration service in regional Queensland may have resulted in less referrals to the service. It is important to confirm a broad-reaching service to optimize patient care.

Contemporary Management of Locally Advanced and Recurrent Rectal Cancer: Views from the PelvEx Collaborative

Pelvic exenteration is a complex operation performed for locally advanced and recurrent pelvic cancers. The goal of surgery is to achieve clear margins, therefore identifying adjacent or involved organs, bone, muscle, nerves and/or vascular structures that may need resection. While these extensive resections are potentially curative, they can be associated with substantial morbidity. Recently, there has been a move to centralize care to specialized units, as this facilitates better multidisciplinary care input. Advancements in pelvic oncology and surgical innovation have redefined the boundaries of pelvic exenterative surgery. Combined with improved neoadjuvant therapies, advances in diagnostics, and better reconstructive techniques have provided quicker recovery and better quality of life outcomes, with improved survival This article provides highlights of the current management of advanced pelvic cancers in terms of surgical strategy and potential future developments.