scholarly journals Reducing the incidence and managing the consequences of anastomotic leakage after rectal resection

2004 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 19-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Meade ◽  
Moran Gen

Anastomotic dehiscence is a serious, life-threatening complication of any rectal anastomosis and may be associated with an increased risk of local cancer recurrence. The leak rate following low anterior resection is in the region of 10% as reported in the recent randomised Dutch rectal cancer trial. Although accurate prediction of risk is impossible, certain factors are known to influence leak rates. There is an inverse relationship between the height of the anastomosis from the anal verge and the leak rate, with the lower anastomoses carrying the highest risk. Proximal defunctioning by a loop stoma mitigates the consequences of leakage and probably reduces, but does not abolish, the risk. There is little difference in rates of dehiscence between stapled and sutured colorectal anastomoses. A short colon pouch may reduce the chance of leakage. The highest risks are in unprotected anastomoses less than 5 cm from the anal verge in men who smoke and/or drink excessively, particularly if they have received pre-operative chemotherapy or chemo-radiotherapy. A high index of suspicion is required in detecting the early non-specific signs of a leak and urgent surgical intervention is usually required to avert a life-threatening situation. Faecal diversion should be regarded as the optimal safety measure to reduce the consequences of leakage and to mange leakage of an unprotected anastomosis.

2004 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 846-851 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Moutardier ◽  
G. Houvenaeghel ◽  
M. Martino ◽  
B. Lelong ◽  
V. J. Bardou ◽  
...  

Pelvic recurrence of cervical cancer is a life-threatening situation and only local control can provide hope for remission. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of surgery in the treatment of cervical cancer recurrence. This retrospective study analyzed a series of 70 patients who underwent resection of cervix locoregional recurrence. Thirteen patients had palliative salvage surgery for pelvic complications. Twenty-nine resections were considered as curative. Fifty recurrences required pelvic exenterations. The hospital mortality rate was 9% and the morbidity rate was 44%. Overall 5-year actuarial survival rate was 23%. Survival was significantly higher: (a) after curative resection and (b) after centropelvic recurrence resection. Local control was obtained in 48% of the cases and 13 patients are alive with a median follow-up of 75 months. In conclusion, the results of this small and heterogen series seem to justify an attempt to resection for centropelvic recurrences whenever possible. Palliative surgery should be reserved to salvage therapy and highly selected patients.


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (18) ◽  
pp. 3061-3063 ◽  
Author(s):  
Uwe Wollina ◽  
Claudia Krönert ◽  
Jacqueline Schönlebe ◽  
Aleksandra Vojvodic ◽  
Torello Lotti

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common malignancy of skin. Although a major risk factor is a chronic exposure to ultraviolet radiation, preexistent chronic inflammatory disorders may also possess an increased risk for SCC. That is not the case for cutaneous lichen planus in contrast to oral lichen planus and oral SCC.  CASE REPORT: We report the case of an 87-year-old Caucasian woman presenting with a giant verrucous tumour on the left ankle. She suffered from long-standing disseminated lichen planus. Histology confirmed the diagnosis of SCC on partly verrucous lichen planus. The course was complicated due to sepsis. An emergency transfemoral amputation became necessary. The patients survived and could be released into her nursery. A literature review underlined the rarity of SCC on lichen planus of the skin. Most of these rare cases were in patients in their second half of life on the lower legs. Hypertrophic lichen plnaus was overrepresented.   CONCLUSIONS: Although very rare by number, SCC can complicate lichen planus and lead to the life-threatening situation. Atypical verrucous lesions on lichen planus warrant a histologic analysis. Surgery is the treatment of choice for cutaneous SCC.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (SPL1) ◽  
pp. 1222-1225
Author(s):  
Shweta Dadarao Parwe ◽  
Avinash Sukhdeorao Ingle ◽  
Milind Abhimanyu Nisargandha ◽  
Bharat Rathi

Healthcare workers (HCWs) are the professional workers directly acquired infection during this coronavirus outbreak. Coronavirus potentially severe acute respiratory infection caused by nCOVID-19 has been declared by pandemic on 11th March 2020 by Word health organisation (WHO). The previous study has reported high susceptibility of respiratory infection in the HCWs. The HCWs are at increased risk for severe respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection. The spread of coronavirus became global public health event, threatening physical and Mental Health of HCWs. This study reviews the possible risk factors for being infected HCWs and avoid transmission of infection at the workplace. Spreading the coronavirus day by day is the life-threatening condition for Health care workers during a pandemic. The community should understand the HCW’s increased responsibility during this public health emergency and must provide the necessary social support as well. There should be enough protective and preventive measures for avoiding transmission in HCWs. Apart from heavy duties HCWs while using PPEs they also have physical and mental exhaustion along with the fear produced out of risk-specific exposures. 


Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 2382
Author(s):  
Eugenia Claudia Zarnescu ◽  
Narcis Octavian Zarnescu ◽  
Radu Costea

Anastomotic leakage is a potentially severe complication occurring after colorectal surgery and can lead to increased morbidity and mortality, permanent stoma formation, and cancer recurrence. Multiple risk factors for anastomotic leak have been identified, and these can allow for better prevention and an earlier diagnosis of this significant complication. There are nonmodifiable factors such as male gender, comorbidities and distance of tumor from anal verge, and modifiable risk factors, including smoking and alcohol consumption, obesity, preoperative radiotherapy and preoperative use of steroids or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Perioperative blood transfusion was shown to be an important risk factor for anastomotic failure. Recent studies on the laparoscopic approach in colorectal surgery found no statistical difference in anastomotic leakage rate compared with open surgery. A diverting stoma at the time of primary surgery does not appear to reduce the leak rate but may reduce its clinical consequences and the need for additional surgery if anastomotic leakage does occur. It is still debatable if preoperative bowel preparation should be used, especially for left colon and rectal resections, but studies have shown similar incidence of postoperative leak rate.


Author(s):  
Yetunde A. Aluko

This paper supports the hypothesis that corruption and non-delivery of services in key sectors such as health have gender-specific poverty consequences. The study utilized qualitative micro-level information about the structures of corruption and its impact on poor women. Respondents expressed their perceptions on the occurrence of corrupt practices in public health care system and its wider impact on society. The findings revealed that the impact of corruption is felt disproportionately by women and the poor, who are most dependent on public services, and have no alternative even when facing corrupt practices in a life threatening situation, such as complicated birth delivery. Pregnant women denied access to doctors tended to deliver at home, which increased the likelihood of complications and maternal and child mortality. Medical supplies meant for public hospitals are sold to private clinics who charge more for drugs and supplies. There is need to strengthen sectoral oversight mechanisms and transparency as well as increase women’s voices in service delivery.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tarso Accorsi ◽  
Karine De Amicis Lima ◽  
Alexandra Brigido ◽  
Deborah Belfort ◽  
Fabio Habrum ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Lightweight portable ultrasound is widely available, especially in inaccessible geographical areas. It demonstrates effectiveness and diagnosis improvement even in field conditions but no precise information about protocols, acquisition time, image interpretation, and the relevance in changing medical conduct exists. The COVID-19 pandemic implied many severe cases and the rapid construction of field hospitals with massive general practitioner (GP) recruitment. OBJECTIVE This prospective and descriptive study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of telemedicine guidance using a standardized multi-organ sonographic assessment protocol in untrained GPs during a COVID-19 emergency in a field hospital. METHODS Eleven COVID-19 in-patients presenting life-threatening complications, attended by local staff who spontaneously requested on-time teleconsultation, were enrolled. All untrained doctors successfully positioned the transducer and obtained key images guided by a remote doctor via telemedicine, with remote interpretation of the findings. RESULTS Only four (36%) general practitioners obtained the appropriate key heart image on the left parasternal long axis window, and three (27%) had an image interpreted remotely on-time. The evaluation time ranged from seven to 42 minutes, with a mean of 22.7 + 12. CONCLUSIONS Telemedicine is effective in guiding GPs to perform portable ultrasound in life-threatening situations, showing effectiveness in conducting decisions.


2011 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. CMBD.S5118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernd Saugel ◽  
Roland M. Schmid ◽  
Wolfgang Huber

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a life-threatening adverse reaction to heparin therapy that is characterized by thrombocytopenia and an increased risk of venous and arterial thrombosis. According to guidelines, in patients with strongly suspected or confirmed HIT all sources of heparin have to be discontinued and an alternative, nonheparin anticoagulant for HIT treatment must immediately be started. For both the prophylaxis of thrombembolic events in HIT and the treatment of HIT with thrombosis the direct thrombin inhibitor argatroban is approved in the United States. The objective of this review is to describe the mechanism of action and the pharmacokinetic profile of argatroban, to characterize argatroban regarding its safety and therapeutic efficacy and to discuss its place in therapy in HIT.


2017 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. S432 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.G. Jungschleger ◽  
M.M. Mydin ◽  
A. Woods ◽  
M. Urban ◽  
N. Robinson ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 3135-3135
Author(s):  
Yan Leyfman ◽  
Nancy Emmanuel ◽  
Aleksey Tentler ◽  
Jared Cappelli ◽  
Timothy K Erick ◽  
...  

3135 Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a novel betacoronavirus that causes the respiratory illness coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). COVID-19 ranges in severity from an asymptomatic viral infection to life-threatening cases of pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), multi-organ damage and sepsis. Cancer patients are at an increased risk of severe SARS-CoV-2 infection due to their immunocompromised status. We propose a mechanism by which SARS-CoV-2 infection causes multiple organ damage through IL-6-mediated inflammation and hypoxia-induced cellular metabolic alterations leading to cell death. Hypoxia is also induced by malignancy due to alterations in metabolism, resulting in greater IL-6 secretion. Methods: To highlight the possible effect of active cancer on the likelihood of hypoxia in COVID-19, we analyzed the correlation between cancer status and the severity of COVID-19 from the COVID-19 and Cancer Consortium data registry. For cancer status, we looked at progressive cancer and remission of cancer only -- those being the two extremes of presence and absence of uncontrolled cancer. Similar to prior studies, the severity of COVID-19 was used as an indication of hypoxia. Results: We observed a 24% positive deviation between expected and actual number of patients with actively progressing cancer who had hypoxic COVID-19 (moderate to severe), and a 26.9% negative deviation between expected and actual number of patients with active cancer who had no hypoxia with COVID-19 (p<0.0001). Conversely, for patients with cancer in remission, there was only a +5.8% and -5.1% deviation between expected and actual number of patients who did not have hypoxia and who had hypoxia, respectively. Conclusions: These results suggest that in the presence of poorly controlled malignancy, there is an increased likelihood of hypoxia in patients with COVID-19, thereby exacerbating downstream cytokine release syndrome and contributing to prolonged systemic inflammatory injury. Appreciating this pathway, future therapies can be developed to target the pathogenesis of both diseases and prevent progression, as seen with mesenchymal stem cells, which demonstrated a 91% overall survival and 100% survival in patients younger than 85 years old at one month after a single treatment.[Table: see text]


2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Saber Yezli

Abstract Human exposure to a hot environment may result in various heat-related illnesses (HRIs), which range in severity from mild and moderate forms to life-threatening heatstroke. The Hajj is one of the largest annual mass gatherings globally and has historically been associated with HRIs. Hajj attracts over two million Muslim pilgrims from more than 180 countries to the holy city of Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Several modifiable and non-modifiable factors render Hajj pilgrims at increased risk of developing HRIs during Hajj. These include characteristics of the Hajj, its location, population, and rituals, as well as pilgrims’ knowledge of HRIs and their attitude and behavior. Makkah is characterized by a hot desert climate and fluctuating levels of relative humidity. Pilgrims are very diverse ethnically and geographically, with different adaptations to heat. Significant proportions of the Hajj population are elderly, obese, and with low levels of fitness. In addition, many have underlying health conditions and are on multiple medications that can interfere with thermoregulation. Other factors are inherent in the Hajj and its activities, including crowding, physically demanding outdoor rituals, and a high frequency of infection and febrile illness. Pilgrims generally lack awareness of HRIs, and their uptake of preventive measures is variable. In addition, many engage in hazardous behaviors that increase their risk of HRIs. These include performing rituals during the peak sunshine hours with no sun protection and with suboptimal sleep, nutrition, and hydration, while neglecting treatment for their chronic conditions. HRIs preventive plans for Hajj should incorporate measures to address the aforementioned factors to reduce the burden of these illnesses in future Hajj seasons. Lessons from the Hajj can be used to inform policy making and HRIs preventive measures in the general population worldwide.


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