Diseases of the colon and rectum
-
The aim of the study contained herein was to investigate the association between blood transfusion and long-term outcome for patients treated for colorectal cancer, controlling for the effect of other prognostic factors. We also wanted to study whether blood storage time influenced the prognosis. ⋯ We found an independent and significant association between perioperative blood transfusion and poor prognosis in colorectal cancer patients. Blood storage time was not a prognostic factor.
-
Radiotherapy is frequently used as a (neo)adjuvant to surgery in colorectal cancer patients, and because such therapy could influence the integrity of the anastomosis, we decided to investigate the effect of preoperative irradiation on colonic anastomosis. ⋯ Although preoperative fractionated irradiation significantly decreased the anastomotic bursting pressure and more burst occurred in the anastomotic line on postoperative day 7, the clinical outcome was similar among the groups.
-
Significant associations between perineal descent and pudendal nerve latency have previously been described in fecally incontinent patients. This has led to the hypothesis that pelvic floor muscle and nerve injury initiated by childbirth might progress and cause fecal incontinence. ⋯ Small but significant effects of vaginal deliveries were detected in a random population of healthy perimenopausal women. However, because perineal descent and pudendal nerve latency were not associated, our findings do not support the hypothesis that damage induced by vaginal delivery to the pudendal nerves and pelvic floor will progress.
-
Two young females with well-documented Crohn's disease and nonhealing perineal wounds following proctectomy compatible with "metastatic Crohn's disease" are described. We hypothesized that metastatic Crohn's disease would be a tumor necrosis factor-dependent inflammatory reaction and have treated these two patients with the anti-tumor necrosis factor chimeric monoclonal antibody, cA2. ⋯ These preliminary data are consistent with a tumor necrosis factor-dependent inflammatory cause of Crohn's disease and its extraintestinal manifestations and provide support for targeting tumor necrosis factor in this condition.