Faculty Bibliography

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to identify the association between early postoperative troponin elevations and outcomes after major colorectal surgery. BACKGROUND: Myocardial infarction is the leading cause of death after noncardiac surgery. Most postoperative myocardial infarctions are clinically silent, and asymptomatic troponin elevations have the same early mortality as symptomatic infarctions. METHODS: Patients over the age of 45, undergoing major colorectal surgery from March 2015 to January 2016, were identified. Plasma troponin T concentrations were prospectively collected within 24 and 48 hours after surgery. Characteristics, evaluations, management, and outcomes of patients with elevated troponin concentrations were analyzed. Mortality within the follow-up period was the primary end point. RESULTS: A total of 1020 patients were screened with postoperative troponin concentrations. Fifty patients had troponin concentrations >0.01 ng/mL. Patients rarely (16%) had ischemic symptoms. Cardiology was consulted for 23 patients and started on medical therapy. Seventeen of these patients were alive at follow-up. Ten patients (20%) with troponin concentrations >0.01 ng/mL died within the follow-up period, 7 of which had concentrations >/=0.03 ng/mL. CONCLUSIONS: Most postoperative myocardial injury is asymptomatic and may only be detected by routine troponin screening. Elevated troponin concentrations after colorectal surgery may facilitate identifying patients at postoperative risk and prompt appropriate testing. Early intervention in select patients may lead to potential reduction of mortality after major colorectal surgery.

BACKGROUND: The perioperative outcomes of patients who underwent straight laparoscopic (LAP) vs hand-assisted laparoscopic (HALS) surgery were compared using a recently released procedure-targeted database. METHODS: The 2012 colectomy-targeted American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was used and patients were classified into 2 groups according to the final surgical approach: LAP vs HALS. Demographics, comorbidities, and 30-day outcomes were compared. RESULTS: A total of 7,843 patients met the inclusion criteria. There were 4,656 (59%) patients in LAP colectomy and 3,187 (41%) in HALS colectomy groups. Groups were comparable in terms of preoperative characteristics and demographics. Mean operative time was slightly longer in LAP group (178 +/- 86 vs 171 +/- 84 minutes, P < .001). After covariate-adjustment analysis, the overall morbidity, superficial surgical site infection, and ileus rates remained slightly higher in HALS group. CONCLUSIONS: Both straight laparoscopic and hand-assisted approaches are used in colorectal surgery and may complement each other in challenging cases. Implementing the best approach to decrease postoperative complication rates and increase use of minimally invasive techniques may play a role in improving patient care and overall quality.

Importance: The use of narcotics among patients with Crohn disease (CD) is endemic. Objective: To evaluate the association between preoperative use of narcotics and postoperative outcomes in patients with CD. Design, Setting, and Participants: Patients undergoing abdominal surgery for CD at a tertiary referral center between January 1998 and June 2014 were identified from an institutional prospectively maintained CD database. Main Outcomes and Measures: Primary end points were overall morbidity, postoperative hospital length of stay, and readmission. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess possible associations between postoperative outcomes and demographic and clinical variables, including preoperative narcotic use. Results: Of the 1331 patients included, the mean age for patients who had at least 1 pharmacy claim for narcotics within 1 month before surgery was 41.5 years and 41.1 years for patients without a pharmacy claim. Of 1461 abdominal operations for CD, 267 (18.3%) were performed on patients receiving preoperative narcotics. Patients receiving narcotics were more likely to have a current smoking habit (P < .001) with perianal disease (P = .046) and undergoing treatment with biologics (P = .04). Patients with preoperative narcotic use had a longer mean (SD) length of stay (11.2 [8.9] vs 7.7 [5.5]; P < .001) and were more likely to develop postoperative complications (52.8% vs 40.8%; P < .001). Multivariable analysis indicated that preoperative narcotic use was the only independent risk factor associated with both postoperative morbidity (odds ratio = 1.36; 95% CI = 1.02-1.82; P = .04) and prolonged hospital stay (estimate = 2.91; SE = 0.44; P < .001). Subgroup analysis indicated that outpatient narcotic users had increased incidence of adverse postoperative outcomes compared with inpatient-only narcotic users. Conclusions and Relevance: Preoperative use of narcotics in patients undergoing abdominal surgery for CD is associated with worse postoperative outcomes. Before starting regular narcotic use, patients with CD should be considered for surgical intervention.

Revisional surgery in colorectal patients carries an increased risk, including wound infection and breakdown. Multiple modalities have been employed to decrease surgical site infection (SSI). Adjuvant therapies have evolved from packing to closed suction drains, to the use of vacuum-assisted wound devices, but many necessitate leaving the wound open, resulting in time-consuming dressing changes, increased cost, length of stay, patient discomfort and worse cosmesis

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:The aim of this study is to compare short-term outcomes of laparoscopic versus open Hartmann reversal. MATERIALS AND METHODS/METHODS:Patients who underwent Hartmann reversal between January 2005 and September 2014 were identified and matched for age, sex, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, and creation of diverting ileostomy to open counterparts. Patient characteristics and postoperative outcomes (30 d) were evaluated. RESULTS:Eighteen patients with laparoscopic Hartmann reversal were matched to 18 open patients. There were no differences between laparoscopic versus open groups in terms of operative time (157.7±52.2 vs. 151.5±49.3 min, P>0.05) or overall complication rates [6 (33.3%) vs. 6 (33.3%) (P>0.05)]. No anastomotic leaks or mortality occurred in either group. However, the laparoscopic group was associated with significantly decreased estimated blood loss (114±103 vs. 217±125 mL, P<0.05), faster return of bowel function (3.2±0.6 vs. 4±0.6 d, P<0.05), and reduced hospital stay (5.4±3.1 vs. 8.3±4.8 d, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS:Laparoscopic Hartmann reversal can be safely performed with better short-term outcomes in carefully selected patients.

PURPOSE: Data evaluating the risk of lymph node metastasis depending upon the location of the primary tumor are limited in patients with T1 colorectal cancer. We aimed to evaluate the impact of tumor location on lymph node metastasis in T1 colorectal cancer. METHODS: Patients who underwent an oncologic resection with curative intent for T1 adenocarcinoma of the colon and rectum between January 1997 and October 2014 were assessed. Exclusion criteria were distant organ metastases, previous or concurrent cancer, past history of surgical or medical cancer treatment, preoperative chemoradiation, and patients with inflammatory bowel disease or polyposis syndromes. RESULTS: Out of 232 (56 % male) patients fulfilling the study criteria, 24 (10 %) had lymph node metastasis. Age (65 vs 61 years, p = 0.1), gender (55 vs 63 % male, p = 0.5), tumor size (2 vs 2 cm, p = 0.49), and lymphovascular invasion (5 vs 8 %, p = 0.46) were not associated with lymph node metastasis. While there was no statistical significance (p = 0.2), lymph node positivity was higher in rectal cancer (14 %, n = 11/79) compared to colon cancer (9 %, n = 13/153). CONCLUSIONS: Although it was not statistically significant, lymph node positivity varies based on tumor location of T1 colorectal adenocarcinoma regardless of fundamental tumor characteristics including size, differentiation, and lymphovascular invasion.

The surgical treatment of complex fistulizing Crohn's disease is difficult and carries a 50% risk of reoperation due to the complex nature of the disease.1 Definitive surgical management requires meticulous preoperative and intraoperative assessment to cure the fistula while preserving bowel reserve and maintaining good nutritional status.2 Using one of the fistula sites for an ileostomy would also reduce the amount of bowel resected.We present a 28 year-old female with fistulising Crohn's disease refractory to medical treatment

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic sigmoidectomy for diverticulitis is widely accepted, using either endolinear staplers or traditional linear staplers under direct vision through the extraction site to transect the rectum. The aim of this study was to assess modifiable factors affecting perioperative morbidity after elective laparoscopic sigmoidectomy for diverticulitis. METHODS: Potential associations between perioperative morbidity and demographic, disease-related, and treatment-related factors were assessed on all consecutive patients included in a prospectively collected database undergoing elective laparoscopic sigmoidectomy for diverticulitis between 1992 and 2013. Rectal transection with a linear stapler under direct vision through the extraction site was considered compatible with laparoscopic technique. RESULTS: There were two deaths out of 1059 patients (0.19 %). Conversion rate was 13.1 %, overall morbidity 28 %, and anastomotic leak 3.7 %. Independent factors associated with morbidity in an intent-to-treat analysis were ASA 3 (OR 1.53, p = 0.006), conversion (OR 1.71, p = 0.015), and rectal transection without endolinear stapling (traditional linear stapler: OR 1.75, p = 0.003; surgical knife: OR 2.09, p = 0.002). The same factors along with complicated diverticulitis (OR 1.56, p = 0.013) were independently associated with overall morbidity among laparoscopically completed cases. BMI >/= 35 (OR 2.3, p = 0.017), complicated diverticulitis (OR 2.37, p = 0.002), and rectal transection with a traditional linear stapler (OR 2.19, p = 0.018) were independently associated with abdomino-pelvic infections, both in an intent-to-treat analysis and among laparoscopically completed cases. The number of endolinear stapler firings was not associated with morbidity. CONCLUSIONS: Most factors associated with morbidity of laparoscopic sigmoidectomy for diverticulitis cannot be easily modified. With the limitation of a retrospective analysis, modifiable factors to minimize morbidity are laparoscopic completion and endolinear stapling.

The present study reports an early institutional experience with robotic proctectomy (RP) and outcome comparison with laparoscopic proctectomy (LP) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Patients who underwent either RP or LP during proctocolectomy for IBD between January 2010 and June 2014 were matched (1:1) and reviewed. Twenty-one patients undergoing RP fulfilled the study criteria and were matched with an equal number of patients who had LP. Operative time was longer (304 vs. 213 min, P=0.008) and estimated blood loss was higher in the RP group (360 vs. 188 mL, P=0.002). Conversion rates (9.5% vs. 14.3%, P>0.99), time to first bowel movement(2.29+/-1.53 vs. 2.79+/-2.26, P=0.620), and hospital length stay(7.85+/-6.41 vs. 9.19+/-7.47 d, P=0.390) were similar in both groups. No difference was noted in postoperative complications, ileal pouch to anal canal anastomosis-related outcomes, Cleveland Global Quality of Life, and Short Form-12 health survey outcomes between RP and LP. Our good results with standard laparoscopy are unlikely to be improved with robotics in proctectomy cases. Potential benefits of robotic approach for completion proctectomy warrant further investigation as experience grows with robotics.