Diseases of the colon and rectum
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Observational Study
Clinical and financial impact of hospital readmissions after colorectal resection: predictors, outcomes, and costs.
After passage of the Affordable Care Act, 30 -day hospital readmissions have come under greater scrutiny. Excess readmissions for certain medical conditions and procedures now result in penalizations on all Medicare reimbursements. ⋯ Readmissions after colorectal resection occur frequently and incur a significant financial burden on the health-care system. Future studies aimed at targeted interventions for high-risk patients may reduce readmissions and curb escalating health-care costs.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
The effect of transversus abdominis plane blocks on postoperative pain in laparoscopic colorectal surgery: a prospective, randomized, double-blind trial.
Superior early pain control has been suggested with transversus abdominis plane blocks, but evidence-based recommendations for transversus abdominis plane blocks and their effects on patient outcomes are lacking. ⋯ Transversus abdominis plane blocks improved immediate short-term opioid use and pain outcomes. Pain improvement was durable throughout the hospital stay. However, the blocks did not translate into less overall narcotic use, shorter length of stay, or lower readmission rates.
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Postoperative occurrences have been associated with an increased risk of readmission, yet these occurrences and their timing have not been well characterized. ⋯ Readmission occurs frequently (12%) after colorectal surgery and is strongly associated with a postdischarge occurrence. The most frequent postdischarge occurrences are infectious in nature and happen early postdischarge. The majority of postdischarge occurrences have already occurred by day 14, a standard time for the postoperative appointment.
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Most surgeons suggest the use of fecal diversion in patients undergoing low anterior resections of rectal tumors at high risk for anastomotic leakage. We describe an exploratory study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a new diversion method called a spontaneously closing cannula ileostomy, which was designed to protect rectal anastomoses in patients at high risk for anastomotic leakage. The outcomes of patients treated with cannula ileostomy were compared to those of patients treated with loop ileostomy. ⋯ Cannula ileostomy is a safe and effective diverting technique that protects low colorectal and coloanal anastomoses. Patients receiving a cannula ileostomy had shorter hospital stays and lower rates of permanent stoma than those receiving a loop ileostomy.
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The Cleveland Clinic Florida Fecal Incontinence score is widely used to assess the severity of fecal incontinence. ⋯ Although the Cleveland Clinic Fecal Florida Incontinence score is a validated scale, which is simple to use for baseline disease severity, it may underestimate patient response to treatment. Additionally, it does not capture improvement in urgency. The ideal scoring system would be easy to use in clinical practice, and would account for improvement in fecal urgency.