Journal of the American College of Surgeons
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Short-course preoperative radiotherapy is indicated in patients with resectable rectal cancer to control local recurrence. Although no clear evidence is available, short-course radiotherapy with operation within a week is common practice. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of timing of operation for rectal cancer after short-course radiotherapy on anastomotic leakage. ⋯ Elective surgery for rectal cancer <4 days after preoperative short-course radiotherapy resulted in an increase of anastomotic leakage.
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The role of home antibiotics (HA) at discharge in children after perforated appendicitis is unclear. This study evaluates the outcomes of complicated appendicitis in patients being discharged with or without HA after initial operation and inpatient treatment. ⋯ Although the majority of pediatric patients with complicated appendicitis are discharged with HA, NSQIP-Pediatric data suggest there is no evidence of a significant benefit. There might be a cohort of patients with more severe disease who require continued antibiotics.