Does pre-operative chemoradiotherapy cause wound complications after abdominoperineal excision for rectal cancer? An observational study

Adipose-derived stromal cells for nonhealing wounds: Emerging opportunities and challenges

Wound healing complications affect thousands of people each year, thus constituting a profound economic and medical burden. Chronic wounds are a highly complex problem that usually affects elderly patients as well as patients with comorbidities such as diabetes, cancer (surgery, radiotherapy/chemotherapy) or autoimmune diseases. Currently available methods of their treatment are not fully effective, so new solutions are constantly being sought. Cell-based therapies seem to have great potential for use in stimulating wound healing. In recent years, much effort has been focused on characterizing of adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (AD-MSCs) and evaluating their clinical use in regenerative medicine and other medical fields. These cells are easily obtained in large amounts from adipose tissue and show a high proregenerative potential, mainly through paracrine activities. In this review, the process of healing acute and nonhealing (chronic) wounds is detailed, with a special attention paid to the wounds of patients with diabetes and cancer. In addition, the methods and technical aspects of AD-MSCs isolation, culture and transplantation in chronic wounds are described, and the characteristics, genetic stability and role of AD-MSCs in wound healing are also summarized. The biological properties of AD-MSCs isolated from subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue are compared. Additionally, methods to increase their therapeutic potential as well as factors that may affect their biological functions are summarized. Finally, their therapeutic potential in the treatment of diabetic and oncological wounds is also discussed.

Wound Complications and Perineal Pain After Extralevator Versus Standard Abdominoperineal Excision: A Nationwide Study

BACKGROUND

Extralevator abdominoperineal excision was introduced as an alternative to conventional abdominoperineal excision for low rectal cancers. The perineal dissection is more extensive with extralevator abdominoperineal excision and leaves a greater defect.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate, on a national basis, the risk of perineal wound complications, pain, and hernia after conventional and extralevator abdominoperineal excision performed for low rectal cancer.

DESIGN

This was a retrospective study collecting data from the Danish Colorectal Cancer Group database and from electronic medical files of patients.

SETTINGS

The study was conducted at Danish surgical departments.

PATIENTS

A total of 445 patients operated between 2009 and 2012 with extralevator or conventional abdominoperineal excision were included.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The main end points of this study were perineal wound complications and pain lasting for >30 days after the operation.

RESULTS

The 2 groups were demographically similar except for a higher ASA score in the conventional group. In the extralevator group, neoadjuvant chemoradiation was more frequent (71% vs 41%; p < 0.001), T stage was higher (more T3 tumors; 52% vs 38%; p = 0.006), and more tumors were fixed (21% vs 12%; p = 0.02). Perineal wound complications and pain were more frequent after extralevator versus conventional excision (44% vs 25%; p < 0.001 and 38% vs 22%; p < 0.001). After multivariate analyses, neoadjuvant chemoradiation, extralevator excision, and operation early in the study period were found to have a significant influence on the risk of long-term wound complications. Neoadjuvant chemoradiation and wound complications were significant risk factors for long-term perineal pain. Results were similar after subgroup analyses on low tumors only.

LIMITATIONS

This was a retrospective study. The 2 groups were not completely comparable at baseline.

CONCLUSIONS

Neoadjuvant chemoradiation, extralevator compared with conventional excision, and operation early in the study period were significant factors for predicting perineal wound complications. Neoadjuvant chemoradiation and wound complications were predictors of long-term perineal pain.

Vacuum-assisted closure therapy for infected perineal wounds after abdominoperineal resection. A retrospective cohort study

INTRODUCTION

Perineal wound complications are a main problem after abdominoperineal resection (APR). There is little evidence concerning perineal wound management. This study describes and evaluates the role of vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) therapy in wound management strategies of perineal wound infections after APR.

METHODS

Patients undergoing APR for malignant disease between January 2007 and January 2013 were identified retrospectively. Data regarding occurrence and management of perineal wound complications were collected. Perineal wound infections were classified into minor or major complications and time to wound healing was measured. Time to wound healing was compared between patients receiving routine care or with additional VAC therapy.

RESULTS

Of 171 included patients, 76 (44.4%) had minor and 36 (21.1%) major perineal wound infections. Management of major infected perineal wounds consisted of drainage (n = 16), debridement (n = 4), drainage combined with debridement (n = 4), VAC therapy alone (n = 5), or VAC therapy combined with other treatments (n = 7). Median duration of perineal wound healing in major infected wounds was 141 days (range 17-739). Median time to wound healing was not different in patients treated with (172 days, range 23-368) or without VAC therapy (131 days, range 17-739).

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

In this study, VAC therapy did not shorten time to wound healing. However, prospective studies are required to investigate the role of VAC therapy in management of infected perineal wounds after APR. Up to then, wound management will remain to be based on clinical perception and 'gut-feeling'.

Improved quality of care for patients undergoing an abdominoperineal excision for rectal cancer

INTRODUCTION

New diagnostics, the emergence of total mesorectal excision and neoadjuvant treatments have improved outcome for patients with rectal cancer. Patients with distal rectal cancer undergoing an abdominoperineal excision seem to do worse compared to those treated with sphinctersparing techniques. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of care for patients undergoing an abdominoperineal excision for distal rectal cancer during the last 15 years.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All patients with rectal cancer, who underwent an abdominoperineal excision between December 1996 and December 2010 in 5 Dutch hospitals were analysed. Patients were divided into three cohorts; 1996-2001, 2001-2005 and 2006-2010. All data was extracted from medical records.

RESULTS

477 patients were identified. There was no significant difference in sex, age, BMI, prior pelvic surgery and ASA stages between the cohorts. MRI became a standard tool in the work-up, the use increased from 4.5% in the first, to 95.1% in the last cohort (p < 0.0001). Neoadjuvant treatment shifted from predominantly none (64.9% in cohort 1) to short course radiotherapy (66.7% in cohort 2) and chemoradiation therapy (55.7% in cohort 3). There was a trend towards a decreased circumferential resection margin involvement in the cohorts (18.8%, 16.7% and 11.4%; p = 0.142). Accidental bowel perforations have significantly decreased from 28.6%, and 21.7% to 9.2% in cohort 3 (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Significant improvements in work-up, neoadjuvant and surgical treatment have been made for patients with low rectal cancer, undergoing an abdominoperineal excision. These improvements result in improved short term outcome.