Is Delaying a Coloanal Anastomosis the Ideal Solution for Rectal Surgery?: Analysis of a Multicentric Cohort of 564 Patients From the GRECCAR

OBJECTIVES

To assess the specific results of delayed coloanal anastomosis (DCAA) in light of its 2 main indications.

BACKGROUND

DCAA can be proposed either immediately after a low anterior resection (primary DCAA) or after the failure of a primary pelvic surgery as a salvage procedure (salvage DCAA).

METHODS

All patients who underwent DCAA intervention at 30 GRECCAR-affiliated hospitals between 2010 and 2021 were retrospectively included.

RESULTS

Five hundred sixty-four patients (male: 63%; median age: 62 years; interquartile range: 53-69) underwent a DCAA: 66% for primary DCAA and 34% for salvage DCAA. Overall morbidity, major morbidity, and mortality were 57%, 30%, and 1.1%, respectively, without any significant differences between primary DCAA and salvage DCAA ( P = 0.933; P = 0.238, and P = 0.410, respectively). Anastomotic leakage was more frequent after salvage DCAA (23%) than after primary DCAA (15%), ( P = 0.016).Fifty-five patients (10%) developed necrosis of the intra-abdominal colon. In multivariate analysis, intra-abdominal colon necrosis was significantly associated with male sex [odds ratio (OR) = 2.67 95% CI: 1.22-6.49; P = 0.020], body mass index >25 (OR = 2.78 95% CI: 1.37-6.00; P = 0.006), and peripheral artery disease (OR = 4.68 95% CI: 1.12-19.1; P = 0.030). The occurrence of this complication was similar between primary DCAA (11%) and salvage DCAA (8%), ( P = 0.289).Preservation of bowel continuity was reached 3 years after DCAA in 74% of the cohort (primary DCAA: 77% vs salvage DCAA: 68%, P = 0.031). Among patients with a DCAA mannered without diverting stoma, 75% (301/403) have never required a stoma at the last follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

DCAA makes it possible to definitively avoid a stoma in 75% of patients when mannered initially without a stoma and to save bowel continuity in 68% of the patients in the setting of failure of primary pelvic surgery.

Permanent stoma after sphincter preservation for rectal cancer. A situation that occurs more often than you might think

Objectives

This study aimed: (i) to assess the cumulative incidence of permanent stoma (PS) after sphincter-preserving surgery (SPS) for rectal cancer (RC): (ii) to analyze associated risk factors for primary and secondary PS; and (iii) to compare the long-term survival of patients according to the stoma state.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective single-center cohort study based on a prospectively maintained database of SRC patients undergoing SPS from January 2007 to December 2017. Incidence of both primary (no reversal of defunctioning stoma) and secondary (created after closure of defunctioning stoma) PS were investigated. Associations between potential risk factors and PS were analyzed using a logistic regression model. Cumulative survival curve was drawn by Kaplan-Meier method.

Results

Of the 257 eligible patients, 43 patients (16.7%) had a PS (16 primary PS and 27 secondary PS) after a median follow-up of 4.8 years. In multivariate analysis, the independent risk factors for primary PS were severe post-operative complications (OR 3.66; 95% CI, 1.19-11.20, p=0.022), and old age (OR 1.11; 95% CI 1.04-1.18, p=0.001) and those for secondary PS were local recurrence (OR 38.07; 95% CI 11.07-130.9, p<0.0001), anastomotic leakage (OR 7.01; 95% CI, 2.23-22.04, p=0.009), and severe post-operative complications (OR 3.67; 95% CI, 1.22-11.04, p=0.02), respectively. Both overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were significantly lower in patients with a PS compared with patients with SPS (p < 0.01).

Conclusions

This present study suggests that one out of 6 patients has a PS, 5 years after rectal resection with SPS for SRC.

Management of Pathogenic CDH1 Variant Carriers within the FREGAT Network: A multicentric Retrospective Study

OBJECTIVE

To describe the management of pathogenic CDH1 variant carriers (pCDH1vc) within the FREGAT (FRench Eso-GAsTric tumor) network. Primary objective focused on clinical outcomes and pathological findings, Secondary objective was to identify risk factor predicting postoperative morbidity (POM).

SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA

Prophylactic Total Gastrectomy (PTG) remains the recommended option for gastric cancer risk management in pCDH1vc with however endoscopic surveillance as an alternative.

METHODS

A retrospective observational multicenter study was carried out between 2003 and 2021. Data were reported as median [interquartile range] or as counts (proportion). Usual tests were used for univariate analysis. Risk factors of overall and severe POM (i.e. Clavien-Dindo grade 3 or more) were identified with a binary logistic regression.

RESULTS

99 patients including 14 index cases were reported from 11 centers. Median survival among index cases was 12.0[7.6-16.4] months with most of them having peritoneal carcinomatosis at diagnosis (71.4%). Among the remaining 85 patients, 77 underwent a PTG (median age 34.6 [23.7 - 46.2], ASA score 1: 75%) mostly via a minimally-invasive approach (51.9%). POM rate was 37.7% including 20.8% of severe POM, with age≥ 40 years and low volume centers as predictors (P=0.030 and P=0.038). After PTG, the cancer rate on specimen was 54.5% (n=42, all pT1a) of which 59.5% had no cancer detected on preoperative endoscopy (n=25).

CONCLUSION

Among pCDH1vc, index cases carry a dismal prognosis. The risk of cancer among patients undergoing PTG remained high and unpredictable and has to be balanced with the morbidity and functional consequence of PTG.

A Scoring System to Determine Patients' Risk of Colectomy Within 1 Year After Hospital Admission for Acute Severe Ulcerative Colitis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

There is consensus on the criteria used to define acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASUC) and on patient management, but it has been a challenge to identify patients at risk for colectomy based on data collected at hospital admission. We aimed to develop a system to determine patients' risk of colectomy within 1 y of hospital admission for ASUC based on clinical, biomarker, and endoscopy data.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of consecutive patients with ASUC treated with corticosteroids, ciclosporin, or tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists and admitted to 2 hospitals in France from 2002 through 2017. Patients were followed until colectomy or loss of follow up. A total of 270 patients with ASUC were included in the final analysis, with a median follow-up time of 30 months (derivation cohort). Independent risk factors identified by Cox multivariate analysis were used to develop a system to identify patients at risk for colectomy 1 y after ASUC. We developed a scoring system based on these 4 factors (1 point for each item) to identify high-risk (score 3 or 4) vs low-risk (score 0) patients. We validated this system using data from an independent cohort of 185 patients with ASUC treated from 2006 through 2017 at 2 centers in France.

RESULTS

In the derivation cohort, the cumulative risk of colectomy was 12.3% (95% CI, 8.6-16.8). Based on multivariate analysis, previous treatment with TNF antagonists or thiopurines (hazard ratio [HR], 3.86; 95% CI, 1.82-8.18), Clostridioides difficile infection (HR, 3.73; 95% CI, 1.11-12.55), serum level of C-reactive protein above 30 mg/L (HR, 3.06; 95% CI, 1.11-8.43), and serum level of albumin below 30 g/L (HR, 2.67; 95% CI, 1.20-5.92) were associated with increased risk of colectomy. In the derivation cohort, the cumulative risks of colectomy within 1 y in patients with scores of 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 were 0.0%, 9.4% (95% CI, 4.3%-16.7%), 10.6% (95% CI, 5.6%-17.4%), 51.2% (95% CI, 26.6%-71.3%), and 100%. Negative predictive values ranged from 87% (95% CI, 82%-91%) to 92% (95% CI, 88%-95.0%). Findings from the validation cohort were consistent with findings from the derivation cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

We developed a scoring system to identify patients at low-risk vs high-risk for colectomy within 1 y of hospitalization for ASUC, based on previous treatment with TNF antagonists or thiopurines, C difficile infection, and serum levels of CRP and albumin. The system was validated in an external cohort.

Diagnosis and management of heart failure from hospital admission to discharge: A practical expert guidance

Heart failure (HF) has high event rates, mortality, and is challenging to manage in clinical practice. Clinical management is complicated by complex therapeutic strategies in a population with a high prevalence of comorbidity and general frailty. In the last four years, an abundance of research has become available to support multidisciplinary management of heart failure from within the hospital through to discharge and primary care as well as supporting diagnosis and comorbidity management. Within the hospital setting, recent evidence supports sacubitril-valsartan combination in frail, deteriorating or de novo patients with LVEF≤40%. Furthermore, new strategies such as SGLT2 inhibitors and vericiguat provide further benefit for patients with decompensating HF. Studies with tafamidis report major clinical benefits specifically for patients with ATTR cardiac amyloidosis, a remaining underdiagnosed and undertreated disease. New evidence for medical interventions supports his bundle pacing to reduce QRS width and improve haemodynamics as well as ICD defibrillation for non-ischemic cardiomyopathy. The Mitraclip reduces hospitalisations and mortality in patients with symptomatic, secondary mitral regurgitation and ablation reduces mortality and hospitalisations in patients with paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation. In end-stage HF, the 2018 French Heart Allocation policy should improve access to heart transplants for stable, ambulatory patients and, mechanical circulatory support should be considered to avoid deteriorating on the waiting list. In the community, new evidence supports that improving discharge education, treatment and patient support improves outcomes. The authors believe that this review fills the gap between the guidelines and clinical practice and provides practical recommendations to improve HF management.

Management of giant presacral schwannoma. Clinical series and literature review

PURPOSE

Presacral schwannomas are rare tumors. Due to their benign nature and slow growth, these tumors are often giant and become difficult to treat. Their removal is a surgical challenge with different strategies reported in the literature. This study presents the consecutives cases of presacral schwannomas operated on in our institution, our surgical strategy and literature review.

METHODS

This retrospective study includes all consecutive patients operated on for a pre-sacral schwannoma in our department between 2006 and 2019, i.e. 6 patients. We report clinical features, pre and post-operative imaging, surgical data and post-operative outcomes.

RESULTS

All patients had symptoms before surgery (constipation, dysuria, radicular or lower back pain) with an average duration of 7.4 months. All patients underwent an MRI and a CT scan before the surgery. Five patients had type III schwannoma according to Klimo classification and one patient had a type II. The average size was 504,9 cm³ (range 53,1-1495,4). All the patients were operated on by an anterior approach in a double team with an mean duration of 246 min. Intraoperative bleeding was less than 500 ml for 4 patients, 2 patients had significant bleeding (2700 and 2900 mL). Excision was total or subtotal in all cases. One patient had an intraoperative complication (air embolism). Follow up at 3 months was excellent with a disappearance of symptoms for all patients except one patient who retained constipation. One patient had a late complication (bowel obstruction due to tissue adhesions). At last follow-up after phone interview, no patient had clinical symptoms that could suggest a recurrence.

CONCLUSION

The anterior approach with a double surgical team is a great option for the treatment of presacral schwannoma. Combined with adequate preoperative imaging and intraoperative stimulation, it reduces the risk of intra and postoperative complications.

Hiatal hernia after oesophagectomy: a large European survey

OBJECTIVES

Hiatal hernias (HH) after oesophagectomy are rare, and their surgical management is not well standardized. Our goal was to report on the management of HH after oesophagectomy in high-volume tertiary European French-speaking centres.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective multicentre study among 19 European French-speaking departments of upper gastrointestinal and/or thoracic surgery. All patients scheduled or operated on for the repair of an HH after oesophagectomy were collected between 2000 and 2016. Demographics, details of the initial procedure, surgical management and long-term outcome were analysed.

RESULTS

Seventy-nine of 6608 (1.2%) patients who had oesophagectomies were included in the study. The postoesophagectomy diagnostic interval of an HH after oesophagectomy was ≤90 days (n = 17; 21%), 13 were emergency cases; between 91 days and 1 year, n = 21 (27%), 13 in emergency; ≥1 year, n = 41 (52%), 17 in emergency. The time to occurrence of HH after oesophagectomy was shorter after laparoscopy (median 308 days; interquartile range 150-693) compared to that after laparotomy (median 562 days, interquartile range 138-1768; P = 0.01). The incidence of HH after oesophagectomy was 0.73% (22/3010) after open surgery and 1.4% (26/1761) after laparoscopy (P = 0.03). Among the 79 patients, 78 were operated on: 35 had laparotomies (45%), 19 had laparoscopies (24%) and 24 (31%) had transthoracic approaches. Among the 43 urgent surgeries, 35 were open (25 laparotomies and 10 transthoracic approaches) and 8 were laparoscopies (conversion rate, 25%). Nine patients required bowel resections. Morbidity occurred in 36 (46%) patients with 1 postoperative death (1.2%). During the follow-up period, recurrent HH after oesophagectomy requiring revisional surgery developed in 8 (6 days-26 months) patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgical management of HH after oesophagectomy could be done by laparoscopy in patients with scheduled surgery but laparotomy or thoracotomy was preferred in urgent situations. The incidence of HH after oesophagectomy is higher and its onset earlier when laparoscopy is used at the initial oesophagectomy.

P3855Incidence, risk factors and impact of readmission for heart failure after successful transcatheter aortic valve replacement

Background

Incidence and correlates of readmission for heart failure in all-comers, after successful transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) remain unclear.

Objective

We sought to evaluate the incidence, risk factors and clinical impact of readmission for HF after successful TAVR in an unselected patient population.

Methods

All patients who underwent successful TAVR in two high-volume French tertiary centers from February 2010 to December 2016 were prospectively included and followed-up for one year. Cox multivariate model was used to assess risk factors of readmission for heart failure, evaluated a time-updated covariate and mortality.

Results

A total of 1139 patients (mean age 82.4±7.7 years, 52.2% male) were included. Readmission for heart failure occurred in 99 (8.7%) patients. Risk factors of readmission for HF were chronic pulmonary disease (adjHR 1.8; 95% CI [1.2–2.8], p=0.008), chronic kidney disease (adjHR 1.7; 95% CI [1.1–2.6], p=0.01), diabetes mellitus (adjHR 1.7; 95% CI [1.1–2.5], p=0.01), prior atrial fibrillation (adjHR 1.6; 95% CI [1.1–2.4], p=0.02) and post-TAVR left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤35% (adjHR 2.1 95% CI 1.2–3.7, p=0.009). Readmission for HF was strongly associated with mortality (Figure) along with increased STS score (adjHR 1.07 95% CI 1.03–1.12, p=0.002), prior atrial fibrillation (adjHR 2.13 95% CI 1.53–2.96, p<0.001) and shock during the index hospitalization (adjHR 2.68 95% CI 1.48–4.87, p=0.001).

Figure 1

Conclusion

Readmission for heart failure occurs in one out of ten patients after successful TAVR and is strong risk factor of mortality. Comorbidities and post-TAVR LVEF≤35% are the main correlates of readmission for heart failure.

Acknowledgement/Funding

ACTION study group

Molecular to organismal chirality is induced by the conserved myosin 1D

The emergence of asymmetry from an initially symmetrical state is a universal transition in nature. Living organisms show asymmetries at the molecular, cellular, tissular, and organismal level. However, whether and how multilevel asymmetries are related remains unclear. In this study, we show that Drosophila myosin 1D (Myo1D) and myosin 1C (Myo1C) are sufficient to generate de novo directional twisting of cells, single organs, or the whole body in opposite directions. Directionality lies in the myosins' motor domain and is swappable between Myo1D and Myo1C. In addition, Myo1D drives gliding of actin filaments in circular, counterclockwise paths in vitro. Altogether, our results reveal the molecular motor Myo1D as a chiral determinant that is sufficient to break symmetry at all biological scales through chiral interaction with the actin cytoskeleton.

Is pathological complete response after a trimodality therapy, a predictive factor of long-term survival in locally-advanced esophageal cancer? Results of a retrospective monocentric study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate long-term (5- and 10-year) survival and recurrence rates on the basis of the pathological complete response (pCR) in the specimens of patients with esophageal carcinoma, treated with trimodality therapy.

METHODS

Between 1993 and 2014, all consecutives patients with esophageal locally-advanced non-metastatic squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) or adenocarcinoma (ADC) who received trimodality therapy were reviewed. According to histopathological analysis, patients were divided in two groups with pCR and with pathological residual tumor (pRT). The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). The secondary endpoints included the disease-free survival (DFS), the recurrence rate, and the predictive factors of overall survival and recurrence.

RESULTS

One hundred and three patients were included: 49 patients with pCR and 54 patients with pRT. The median OS was significantly longer in pCR group than in pRT group (132±22.3 vs. 25.5±4 months), with both 5- and 10-years OS rates of 75.2% vs. 29.1%, and 51.1% vs. 13.6%, respectively (P<0.001). Also, pRT, major postoperative complications (Dindo-Clavien grade>IIIb) and recurrence were the 3 independent predictive factors for worse OS.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with locally-advanced oesophageal carcinoma, who responded to trimodality therapy with a pCR, could be achieved a 10-year survival rate of 51%.

Discrepancy Between Clinical and Pathologic Nodal Status of Esophageal Cancer and Impact on Prognosis and Therapeutic Strategy

BACKGROUND

The impact of discrepancies between clinical (c) and pathologic (p) stages of esophageal cancer remains a poorly understood issue. This study aimed to compare the prognosis of patient groups treated by primary surgery including clinical N0/pathologic N0 (cN0pN0), clinical N0/pathologic N+ (cN0pN+), clinical N+/pathologic N0 (cN+pN0), and clinical N+/pathologic N+ (cN+pN+).

METHODS

Data were collected from 30 European centers during the years 2000 to 2010. Among 2944 recruited patients, 1554 patients receiving primary surgery met the inclusion criteria including 613 cN0pN0, 403 cN0pN+, 220 cN+pN0, and 318 cN+pN+ patients. Analyses with adjustment of the propensity score were used to compensate for differences in baseline characteristics.

RESULTS

Clinical T stages 3 and 4 were increased in cN+pN+ (73.0%), cN0pN+ (49.6%), and cN+pN0 (51.8%) compared with cN0pN0 (32.8%). Compared with cN0pN0, cN+pN+ and cN0pN+ showed an increase in the proportion of adenocarcinoma histologic subtype, poor tumor differentiation, pathologic T3 and T4 stages, and R1/2 resection margin. Adjusted 5-year overall survival (hazard ratio [HR] 3.12; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.57-3.78; P < 0.001) and event-free survival (HR 2.87; 95% CI 2.39-3.45; P < 0.001) were significantly reduced in cN0pN+ compared with cN0pN0. No significant differences in 5-year overall survival or event-free survival between cN0pN+ and cN+pN+ were observed. Regression analysis identified an association of distal tumor location, advanced clinical T stage, and poor tumor differentiation with pN+ disease.

CONCLUSIONS

This large multicenter study showed that cN0pN+ has a prognosis similar to that of cN+pN+ and worse than that of cN0pN0. Patients with clinical N0 disease but risk factors for pathologic N+ disease may benefit from neoadjuvant therapy before surgery.

Surgically treated oesophageal cancer developed in a radiated field: Impact on peri-operative and long-term outcomes

BACKGROUND

The objectives of this study were to compare peri-operative and long-term outcomes from oesophageal cancer (EC) (i) that arose in a previously radiated field (ECRF) versus primary (PEC) and among ECRF patients and (ii) radiotherapy-induced (RIEC) versus non-radiotherapy-induced EC (NRIEC).

METHODS

Data were collected from 30 European centres from 2000 to 2010. Two thousand four hundred eighty nine EC patients surgically treated were included in the PEC group and 136 in the ECRF group, NRIEC group (n = 61) and RIEC group (n = 75). Propensity score matching analyses were used to compensate for differences in baseline characteristics.

RESULTS

Compared to the PEC group, the ECRF group was characterised by less use of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (0% versus 29.5%; P < 0.001), less pathological stage III/IV (31.6% versus 39.2%, P = 0.036), greater incidence of R1/2 margins (21.3% versus 10.9%; P < 0.001), increased in-hospital mortality (14.0% versus 7.1%; P = 0.003) and overall morbidity (68.4% versus 56.4%, P = 0.006). After matching, 5-year overall (28.8% versus 50.5%; hazard ratio [HR] = 1.53, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.15-2.04; P = 0.003) and event-free (32.2% versus 42.5%; HR = 1.56, 95% CI: 1.18-2.05; P = 0.002) survivals were significantly reduced in the ECRF group. There were no significant differences in incidence or pattern of tumour recurrence. Comparing RIEC and NRIEC groups, there were no significant differences in short- or long-term outcomes before and after matching.

CONCLUSIONS

ECRF is associated with poorer long-term survival related to a reduced utilisation of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and an increased incidence of tumour margin involvement at surgery. Outcomes appear to be dictated by the limitations related to previous radiotherapy administration more than the radiotherapy-induced carcinogenesis.

Surgically treated esophageal cancer developed in a radiated field: Impact on peri-operative and long-term outcomes

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Background: The objectives of this study were to compare peri-operative and long-term outcomes from esophageal cancer (EC) (i) that arose in a previously radiated field (ECRF) versus primary (PEC) and among ECRF patients (ii) radiotherapy-induced (RIEC) versus non radiotherapy-induced EC (NRIEC). Methods: Data was collected from 30 European centers from 2000–2010. 2489 EC patients surgically treated were included in the PEC group and 136 in the ECRF group, including 61 in the NRIEC group and 75 in the RIEC group. Propensity score matching analyses were used to compensate for differences in baseline characteristics. Results: Compared to the PEC group, the ECRF group was characterized by less use of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (0% vs. 29.5%; P < 0.001), less pathological stage III/IV (31.6% vs 39.2%, P = 0.036), greater incidence of R1/2 margins (21.3% vs. 10.9%; P < 0.001), increased in-hospital mortality (14.0% vs. 7.1%; P = 0.003) and overall morbidity (68.4% vs. 56.4%, P = 0.006). After matching, 5-year overall (28.8% vs. 50.5%; HR = 1.53, 95% C.I. 1.15-2.04; P = 0.003) and event-free (32.2% vs. 42.5%; HR = 1.56, 95% C.I. 1.18-2.05; P = 0.002) survivals were significantly reduced in the ECRF group. There were no significant differences in incidence or pattern of tumor recurrence. Comparing RIEC and NRIEC groups, there were no significant differences in short- or long-term outcomes before and after matching. Conclusions: ECRF is associated with poorer long-term survival related to a reduced utilization of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and an increased incidence of tumor margin involvement at surgery. Outcomes are dictated by the limitations related to previous radiotherapy administration more than the radiotherapy-induced carcinogenesis.

Emergency surgery for epidural abcess secondary to sacral fistula after laparoscopic proctectomy

A 61-year-old man presented via the emergency department with a few days history of abdominal and colic occlusion symptoms. He presented signs of sepsis, midline lumbar spine tenderness and reduced hip flexion. Computer tomography of the abdomen and pelvis showed a presacral collection contiguous with the posterior part of the colo-rectal anastomosis, and MRI lumbar spine revealed abscess invation into the epidural space. He underwent a laparotomy with washout of the presacral abscess and a colostomy with a prolonged course of intravenous antibiotic therapy. At 3 weeks after initial presentation he had made a full clinical recovery with progressive radiological resolution of the epidural abscess. The objective of the case report is to highlight a unique and clinically significant complication of a rare post-operative complication after rectal surgery and to briefly discuss other intra-abdominal sources of epidural abscess.

Multicentre study of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for stage I and II oesophageal cancer

Background

The benefit of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) for early-stage oesophageal cancer is unknown. The aim of this study was to assess whether NCT improves the outcome of patients with stage I or II disease.

Methods

Data were collected from 30 European centres from 2000 to 2010. Patients who received NCT for stage I or II oesophageal cancer were compared with patients who underwent primary surgery with regard to postoperative morbidity, mortality, and overall and disease-free survival. Propensity score matching was used to adjust for differences in baseline characteristics.

Results

Of 1173 patients recruited (181 NCT, 992 primary surgery), 651 (55·5 per cent) had clinical stage I disease and 522 (44·5 per cent) had stage II disease. Comparisons of the NCT and primary surgery groups in the matched population (181 patients in each group) revealed in-hospital mortality rates of 4·4 and 5·5 per cent respectively (P = 0·660), R0 resection rates of 91·7 and 86·7 per cent (P = 0·338), 5-year overall survival rates of 47·7 and 38·6 per cent (hazard ratio (HR) 0·68, 95 per cent c.i. 0·49 to 0·93; P = 0·016), and 5-year disease-free survival rates of 44·9 and 36·1 per cent (HR 0·68, 0·50 to 0·93; P = 0·017).

Conclusion

NCT was associated with better overall and disease-free survival in patients with stage I or II oesophageal cancer, without increasing postoperative morbidity.

Left adrenal tumor extending into the renal vein: surgical management with ipsilateral kidney preservation

If single adrenal metastasis surgery is well admitted, no recommendation exists about the management of a renal vein tumor thrombus, even though the actual consensual attitude consists in a nephrectomy associated to an adrenalectomy. We report, here, the case of a 74-year-old man with a suspected adrenal metastasis of a lung carcinoma associated with a left adrenal and renal vein tumor thrombus treated by adrenalectomy and renal vein thrombectomy and ipsilateral kidney sparing. The postoperative computed tomography scan showed no thrombus in the left renal vein. Doppler ultrasound performed 1 month after adrenalectomy proved a good left renal vein flux. At 36 months of follow-up, the patient is alive without signs of recurrence.

Predictive Factors of Recurrence in Patients with Pathological Complete Response After Esophagectomy Following Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy for Esophageal Cancer: A Multicenter Study

BACKGROUND

Minimal data have previously emerged from studies regarding the factors associated with recurrence in patients with ypT0N0M0 status. The purpose of the study was to predict survival and recurrence in patients with pathological complete response (pCR) following chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and surgery for esophageal cancer (EC).

METHODS

Among 2944 consecutive patients with EC operations in 30 centers between 2000 and 2010, patients treated with neoadjuvant CRT followed by surgery who achieved pCR (n = 191) were analyzed. The factors associated with survival and recurrence were analyzed using a Cox proportional hazard regression analysis.

RESULTS

Among 593 patients who underwent neoadjuvant CRT followed by esophagectomy, pCR was observed in 191 patients (32.2 %). Recurrence occurred in 56 (29.3 %) patients. The median time to recurrence was 12 months. The factors associated with recurrence were postoperative complications grade 3-4 [odds ratio (OR): 2.100; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.008-4.366; p = 0.048) and adenocarcinoma histologic subtype (OR 2.008; 95 % CI 0.1.06-0.3.80; p = 0.032). The median overall survival was 63 months (95 % CI 39.3-87.1), and the median disease-free survival was 48 months (95 % CI 18.3-77.4). Age (>65 years) [hazard ratio (HR): 2.166; 95 % CI 1.170-4.010; p = 0.014), postoperative complications grades 3-4 [HR 2.099; 95 % CI 1.137-3.878; p = 0.018], and radiation dose (<40 Gy) (HR 0.361; 95 % CI 0.159-0.820; p = 0.015) were identified as factors associated with survival.

CONCLUSIONS

An intensive follow-up may be beneficial for patients with EC who achieve pCR and who develop major postoperative complications or the adenocarcinoma histologic subtype.