[Total pelvic exenteration and rectal cancer. Apropos of 20 cases]

Comparison of immediate surgical outcomes between posterior pelvic exenteration and standard resection for primary rectal cancer: A matched case-control study

AIM: To determine the immediate surgical outcome and recovery of bowel function following posterior pelvic exenteration (PPE) for primary rectal cancer with suspected local invasion to the female internal reproductive organs, in comparison with a case-control series of standard resection for primary rectal cancer.

METHODS: We analyzed 10 consecutive female patients undergoing PPE for the aforementioned indication between December 2003 and May 2006 in a single institution. Data were prospectively collected during hospitalization, including patient demographics, tumor- and operation-related variables and early surgical outcomes. These patients were compared with a group of female patients, matched for age, co-morbidity and location of tumor, who underwent standard resection for primary rectal cancer in the same period (non PPE group).

RESULTS: In the PPE group, pathological reports showed direct invasion of the reproductive organs in 4 cases and an involvement of lymph nodes in 7 cases. A sphincter-saving operation was performed in each case. Operative time was longer (274 min vs 157 min, P < 0.001) and blood loss was greater (769 mL vs 203 mL, P = 0.008) in the PPE group. Time to first bowel movement, time to first defecation, time to resumption of normal diet, and hospital stay were not significantly different between the two groups. Postoperative complication rates were also similar.

CONCLUSION: PPE for rectal cancer was associated with longer operative time and increased blood loss, but did not compromise immediate surgical outcomes and postoperative bowel function compared to standard rectal resection.

A exenteração pélvica para o câncer de reto: avaliação dos fatores prognósticos de sobrevida em 27 pacientes operados

OBJETIVO: Identificar os fatores prognósticos de sobrevida dos pacientes submetidos à exenteração pélvica no tratamento curativo do câncer de reto (no Estádio T4 e na recidiva pélvica isolada). MÉTODOS: Os dados completos de 27 pacientes submetidos a esse tipo de operação por adenocarcinoma de reto entre Janeiro de 1996 a Junho de 2006 foram avaliados. Foram estudados diversos fatores prognósticos epidemiológicos, cirúrgicos e histológicos por meio de análise multivariada. RESULTADOS: A mortalidade pós-operatória foi de 7 % (n=2) enquanto a morbidade global foi de 55 % (n=15). A média de sobrevida global foi de 38 meses. A sobrevida global foi maior nos tumores T4 do que nas recidivas pélvicas (47 X 26 meses). Somente o comprometimento linfonodal (N+) foi fator prognóstico negativo na análise multivariada. CONCLUSÃO: A exenteração pélvica para o tratamento do câncer de reto apresenta alta morbidade e considerável mortalidade. Deve ser indicada nos tumores T4, principalmente quando não há disseminação linfonodal.

A exenteração pélvica no tratamento do câncer de reto estádio T4: experiência de 15 casos operados

RACIONAL: A exenteração pélvica tem sido a melhor opção terapêutica radical para o tratamento dos tumores de reto T4. No entanto, essa operação ainda permanece com mortalidade significante e alta morbidade. OBJETIVO: Relatar série de 15 casos de exenteração pélvica para tumores de reto T4, analisando a morbidade, mortalidade e sobrevida dos pacientes. MÉTODOS: Foram estudados 15 pacientes com câncer de reto T4 no Serviço de Cirurgia Geral - Oncocirurgia do Hospital do Servidor Publico Estadual de São Paulo, SP, submetidos a exenteração pélvica no período de 1998 e 2006. Sete eram do sexo masculino enquanto oito eram do sexo feminino, com média de idade de 65 anos. Todos apresentavam sintomas incapacitantes. As operações foram: exenteração infra-elevadora (n = 6), exenteração supra-elevadora (n = 4), exenteração posterior (n = 3) e exenteração posterior com cistectomia e ureterectomia parciais (n = 2). RESULTADOS: A média de tempo cirúrgico foi de 403 minutos (280-485). A média de sangramento foi de 1620 mL (300-4800). A mortalidade pós-operatória foi de 6,66% (n = 1). A morbidade pós-operatória foi de 53,3% (n = 8). Os exames histológicos evidenciaram que todas as ressecções foram R0. Envolvimento linfonodal foi observado em quatro pacientes (26,66 %) sendo que todos faleceram em decorrência da neoplasia. A sobrevida global em cinco anos foi de 35,7%. CONCLUSÃO: A exenteração pélvica ainda apresenta alta morbidade, no entanto permanece justificada, pois pode conferir maior controle do câncer de reto T4 em longo prazo.

Perioperative blood transfusions for the recurrence of colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

The improvement of renal allograft survival by pre-transplantation transfusions alerted the medical community to the potential detrimental effect of transfusions in patients being treated for cancer.

OBJECTIVES

The present meta-analysis aims to evaluate the role of perioperative blood transfusions (PBT) on colorectal cancer recurrence. This is accomplished by validating the results of a previously published meta-analysis (Amato 1998); and by updating it to December 2004.

SEARCH STRATEGY

Published papers were retrieved using Medline, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, controlled trials web-based registries, or the CCG Trial Database. The search strategy used was: {colon OR rectal OR colorectal} WITH {cancer OR tumor OR neoplasm} AND transfusion. The tendency not to publish negative trials was balanced by inspecting the proceedings of international congresses.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Patients undergoing curative resection of colorectal cancer (classified either as Dukes stages A-C, Astler-Coller stages A-C2, or TNM stages T1-3a/N0-1/M0) were included if they had received any amount of blood products within one month of surgery. Excluded were patients with distant metastases at surgery, and studies with short follow-up or with no data.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

A specific form was developed for data collection. Data extraction was cross-checked, using the most recent publication in case of repetitive ones. Papers' quality was ranked using the method by Evans and Pollock. Odds ratios (OR, with 95% confidence intervals) were computed for each study, and pooled estimates were generated by RevMan (version 4.2). When available, data were stratified for risk factors of cancer recurrence.

MAIN RESULTS

The findings of the 1998 meta-analysis were confirmed, with small variations in some estimates. Updating it through December 2004 led to the identification of 237 references. Two-hundred and one of them were excluded because they analyzed survival (n=22), were repetitive (n=26), letters/reviews (n=66) or had no data (n=87). Thirty-six studies on 12,127 patients were included: 23 showed a detrimental effect of PBT; 22 used also multivariable analyses, and 14 found PBT to be an independent prognostic factor. Pooled estimates of PBT effect on colorectal cancer recurrence yielded overall OR of 1.42 (95% CI, 1.20 to 1.67) against transfused patients in randomized controlled studies. Stratified meta-analyses confirmed these findings, also when stratifying patients by site and stage of disease. The PBT effect was observed regardless of timing, type, and in a dose-related fashion, although heterogeneity was detected. Data on surgical techniques was not available for further analysis.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

This updated meta-analysis confirms the previous findings. All analyses support the hypothesis that PBT have a detrimental effect on the recurrence of curable colorectal cancers. However, since heterogeneity was detected and conclusions on the effect of surgical technique could not be drawn, a causal relationship cannot still be claimed. Carefully restricted indications for PBT seems necessary.

Urinary tract involvement by colorectal cancer

PURPOSE

Involvement of the urinary tract by colorectal cancer is sufficiently rare to be encountered by an individual surgeon on an infrequent basis. The aim of this review is to highlight technical and oncologic issues that should be considered when dealing with complex colorectal cancer that involves the urinary tract.

METHODS

The relevant literature from 1975 to 2001 was identified using the MEDLINE database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and reviewed. Because of the diversity of forms of presentation of urologic involvement, few randomized, controlled trials are available, with most evidence derived from retrospective studies.

RESULTS

Three distinct clinical situations in which the urinary tract may be affected by colorectal cancer were identified: involvement by primary colorectal cancer, involvement by recurrent cancer, and unexpected intraoperative findings of urinary tract involvement. Management strategies to identify and treat locally advanced primary or recurrent colorectal cancer involving the urinary tract improve survival with acceptable morbidity and mortality. Careful preoperative assessment of all patients with colorectal cancer will reduce unexpected identification of urinary tract invasion at the time of surgery. In patients in whom cure is not possible, endourologic techniques combined with judicious surgical resection can provide high-quality palliation. Optimal care of many of these conditions is facilitated by specialist urologic advice.

CONCLUSIONS

The wide spectrum of possible urinary tract involvement by colorectal cancer requires individual patient-specific and disease-specific consideration. The literature offers important guidelines that aid decision making and improve management of these challenging problems.