Minimally invasive surgical treatments for colon cancers have revolutionized surgical approaches and have been implemented broadly over the last two decades. On the other hand, robotic-assisted versus laparoscopic resections for rectal cancer and comparison of these minimally invasive approaches with the traditional open operation are controversial and challenging topics to discuss between the different surgical investigators. Recent published studies have shown somewhat differing data and results from randomized controlled and non-randomized trials comparing laparoscopic with open rectal resections as well as robotic-assisted with both open and laparoscopic approaches. The surgical approach for rectal cancer is a fascinating subject since there are several different endpoints which have been used to measure quality and outcome. Overall survival, disease free survival, and quality of life (QOL) are the most relevant endpoints of rectal cancer treatment. Among minimally invasive approaches, the robotic approach seems to be less invasive than conventional laparoscopic surgery (LS) and less than hand assisted approach due partly to the less traumatic intra-abdominal handling of tissues. A convincing clinical benefit of minimally invasive rectal cancer approaches could be due to diminished surgical stress response leading to reduced morbidity. For this review, we have performed a systematic review of rectal cancer surgical management focusing on minimally invasive approaches, focusing specifically on the latest results of randomized trials for robotic assisted and laparoscopic rectal cancer resection.

Purpose

To present a digital image subtraction technique to alert clinicians to signs of glaucomatous optic disc progression.

Methods

Ninety-two glaucomatous eyes (65 patients) were included. Thirty-three eyes were identified as progressive and 59 as stable based on comparison of baseline and follow-up stereoscopic disc photographs by three masked glaucoma specialists. The disc images were aligned and converted to gray scale and underwent histogram matching to enhance contrast and account for illumination differences. The difference in image intensity between baseline and follow-up images was shown as a colormap superimposed on the grayscale follow-up image. A graded scale (1, no progression, to 5, definitive progression) was used by three masked glaucoma experts to score progression probability on the colormap images. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the classification were computed. Weighted κ statistics summarized agreement of categorical gradings.

Results

Median time interval between two visits was 4.4 years (range: 1.0-16.8). Clinicians detected glaucoma deterioration in 25 to 27 of the progressive group and 8 to 10 of stable eyes based on subtraction maps. Sensitivities/specificities of the clinicians were 0.76 to 0.82 and 0.86 to 0.89, respectively. Classification accuracy ranged from 81.5% to 84.8%. Agreement among clinicians was good (weighted κ = 0.68; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.60-0.77) for progression grades (1-5 scales) and was substantial (weighted κ = 0.81; 95% CI: 0.74-0.85) for binary scores.

Conclusions

The proposed software provides a single static image that clinicians can use with other structural/functional tests to detect glaucoma progression.

Translational relevance

Provision of a subtraction colormap in the setting of electronic medical records can improve monitoring of glaucoma by alerting clinicians to possible signs of progression.

Background

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is potentially a serious postoperative complication. We examined the incidence and outcome of VTE among different laparoscopic abdominal surgical operations for benign diseases.

Methods

The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was utilized to evaluate all patients with benign disease who underwent laparoscopic abdominal operations including colorectal surgery, bariatric surgery, cholecystectomy, esophageal surgery, abdominal wall hernia repair, and appendectomy from 2005 to 2014. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed.

Results

750,159 patients were studied and the overall incidence of VTE was 0.32% within 30 days of operation. Colorectal surgery had the highest incidence of VTE (734/65512, 1.12%) with significantly longest length of stay and operative time. Patients who developed VTE had higher mortality and worse outcomes compared to non-VTE patients.

Conclusions

Laparoscopic colorectal operations for benign disease is at higher risk for development of VTE compared to other laparoscopic abdominal operations. Further studies should be performed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms for our finding.

Purpose

Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients constitute a heterogenous group. Identification of phenotypic subtypes among these patients may provide a deeper understanding of the disease and aid associations with genotypes. We describe a phenotype of POAG patients associated with a constellation of systemic disorders; patients with this phenotype seem to be vulnerable to optic nerve damage at low intraocular pressures.

Materials and methods

In this retrospective study, we evaluated the medical records of active Jules Stein Eye Institute glaucoma patients from January 1996 to 2017 and included subjects with POAG, acquired pits of the optic nerve (APON), and at least one of the following: systolic blood pressure persistently ≤100 mm Hg, history of migraine headaches or migraine variant, and the Raynaud syndrome.

Results

Of 87 patients (125 eyes) with APON, 37 patients (55 eyes) met the study criteria. In total, 34 patients were female (92%). The median age at the time of diagnosis was 55 years. Nineteen patients (73%) had low systolic blood pressures, same number had Raynaud syndrome, and 25 (68%) had a history of migraine.

Conclusions

We describe a POAG subtype with APON and systemic vascular instability, predominantly female in their sixth decade of life who demonstrate progressive glaucomatous visual field damage at low intraocular pressure. We suggest that this clinical picture represents an important phenotype of POAG, and that identification and further study of it will help guide diagnosis and development of individualized treatments.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a critical complication after surgery. Although pregnancy is a known risk factor of VTE, available data on the risk of postoperative VTE are scarce. Using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database between 2006 and 2012, we matched 2,582 pregnant women to 103,640 nonpregnant women based on age, race, body mass index, and modified Rogers score. Pregnant women, compared with matched nonpregnant women, experienced higher incidence of VTE (0.5% vs 0.3%; odds ratio 1.93, 95% confidence interval 1.1 to 3.37, p = 0.02). Pregnant women also showed higher risk of pneumonia, ventilator dependence ≥48 hours, bleeding, and sepsis than did the counterparts. In conclusion, pregnancy was associated with higher risk of VTE after surgery as well as other postoperative complications. The absolute risk difference was small, and careful evaluation against the potential risk and benefit should be given when surgical treatment is considered among pregnant women.

Background

There are limited data regarding the criteria for prophylactic treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE) after hospital discharge. We sought to identify risk factors of post-hospital discharge VTE events following colorectal surgery.

Methods

The NSQIP database was utilized to examine patients developed VTE after hospital discharge following colorectal surgery during 2005-2013. Multivariate analysis using logistic regression was performed to quantify risk factors of VTE after discharge.

Results

We evaluated a total of 219,477 patients underwent colorectal resections. The overall incidence of VTE was 2.1 % (4556). 33.8 % (1541) of all VTE events occurred after hospital discharge. The length of postoperative hospitalization had a strong association with post-discharge VTE, with the highest risk in patients who were hospitalized for more than 1 week after operation (AOR 9.08, P < 0.01). Other factors associated with post-discharge VTE included chronic steroid use (AOR 1.81, P < 0.01), stage 4 colorectal cancer (AOR 1.40, P = 0.03), obesity (AOR 1.37, P < 0.01), age >70 (AOR 1.21, P = 0.04), and open surgery (AOR 1.36, P < 0.01). Patients who were hospitalized for more than 1 week after an open colorectal resections had a 12 times higher risk of post-discharge VTE event compared to patients hospitalized less than 4 days after a laparoscopic resection (AOR 12.34, P < 0.01).

Conclusions

VTE is uncommon following colorectal resections; however, a significant proportion occurs after patients are discharged from the hospital (33.8 %). The length of postoperative hospitalization appears to have a strong association with post-discharge VTE. High-risk patients may benefit from continued VTE prophylaxis after discharge.

Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence is rising among patients under age 50. As such, we set out to determine the proportion of CRC-related hospital admissions and distribution of colon cancer by stage in different age groups.

Methods

The NIS database for 2002-2012 was used to investigate trends of colorectal cancer resection by age, and the ACS NSQIP database for 2012-2013 was used to investigate contemporary stage at diagnosis for colon cancer in different age groups.

Results

A total of 1,198,421 patients were admitted to a hospital with a diagnosis of CRC and captured by the NIS database. Although the number of hospitalized CRC patients decreased from 2002 to 2012, the observed decrease was predominant in patients older than 65 years (P < 0.01) and in colon cancer compared to rectal cancer patients (P < 0.01). The proportion of patients younger than 65 years increased from 32.8 % in 2002 to 41.1 % in 2012, and the proportion of patients under age 50 increased from 9 to 12 %. In the NSQIP database, the age <50 group also had a significantly higher proportion of advanced disease (stage III/IV) compared to patients age 50 and older (62.3 vs. 47.5 %, P < 0.01). In 2012, it was observed that most patients with rectal cancer were younger than 65 years (55.8 %).

Conclusion

There was a steady decrease in the number of hospitalized patients with colorectal cancer during the last decade, primarily attributable to a decrease in the older than 65 years age patients and colon cancer patients. The proportion of hospitalized patients age <50 is rising. In addition, patients younger than 50 years were more likely to have advanced disease compared to older patients.