Diseases of the colon and rectum
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Colorectal surgery outcomes must be accurately assessed and aligned with patient priorities. No study to date has investigated the patient's subjective assessment of outcomes most important to them during and following their surgical recovery. Although surgeons greatly value the benefits of laparoscopy, patient priorities remain understudied. ⋯ Overall, patients reported high satisfaction with their care. Most important priorities included being free of cancer, stoma, and surgical complications. In contrast, outcomes traditionally important to surgeons such as laparoscopy, incision appearance, and length of stay were deemed less important. This research helps elucidate the outcomes patients truly consider valuable, and surgeons should focus on these outcomes when making surgical decisions. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A596. See Visual Abstract at https://tinyurl.com/yb25xl66.
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National databases show a recent significant increase in the incidence of colorectal cancer in people younger than 50. With current recommendations to begin average-risk screening at age 50, these patients do not have the opportunity to be screened. We hypothesized that most of the cancers among the young would be left sided, which would create an opportunity for screening the young by flexible sigmoidoscopy. ⋯ The combination of an increasing incidence of colorectal cancer in those under 50 years of age and the predominance of left-sided cancer suggests that screening by flexible sigmoidoscopy starting at age 40 in average-risk individuals may prevent cancer by finding asymptomatic lesions. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A579.
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Hospital length of stay is often used as a measure of in-hospital recovery but may be confounded by organizational factors. Time to readiness for discharge may provide a superior index of recovery. ⋯ This study contributes evidence to the construct validity of time-to-readiness for discharge and length of stay as measures of in-hospital recovery within enhanced recovery pathways. Our findings suggest that length of stay can be a less resource-intensive and equally construct-valid index of in-hospital recovery compared with time-to-readiness for discharge. Enhanced recovery pathways may decrease process-of-care variances that impact length of stay, allowing more timely discharge once discharge criteria are achieved. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A564.
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Appendix adenocarcinomas are rare tumors with propensity for peritoneal metastasis. Cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy is an established treatment with curative intent, but, to date, studies reporting survival have been heterogeneous with regard to their patient groups (including other tumor types), interventions (not all patients receiving intraperitoneal chemotherapy), and follow-up (varying surveillance protocols). ⋯ This study quantifies the impact of cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy on overall and disease event-free survival for appendix adenocarcinoma, identifying key prognostic indicators that may guide treatment. It supports the referral of these rare tumors to specialist centers with appropriate expertise for initial management and follow-up. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A595.
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Comparative Study
An Optimal Orthotopic Mouse Model for Human Colorectal Cancer Primary Tumor Growth and Spontaneous Metastasis.
Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related death. Small animal models allow for the study of different metastatic patterns, but an optimal model for metastatic colorectal cancer has not been established. ⋯ Intrarectal injection is the safest, most reproducible, and successful orthotopic mouse model for human colorectal cancer primary tumor growth and spontaneous metastasis.