Purpose: This systematic review and meta-analysis compared the outcomes of the watch-and-wait (WW) approach versus radical surgery (RS) in rectal cancers with clinical complete response (cCR) after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Methods: This study followed the PRISMA guidelines. Major databases were searched to identify relevant articles. WW and RS were compared through meta-analyses of pooled proportions. Primary outcomes included overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), local recurrence, and distant metastasis rates. Pooled salvage surgery rates and outcomes were also collected. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale was employed to assess the risk of bias. Results: Eleven studies including 1,112 rectal cancer patients showing cCR after neoadjuvant chemoradiation were included. Of these patients, 378 were treated nonoperatively with WW, 663 underwent RS, and 71 underwent local excision. The 2-year OS (risk ratio [RR], 0.95; P = 0.94), 5-year OS (RR, 2.59; P = 0.25), and distant metastasis rates (RR, 1.05; P = 0.80) showed no significant differences between WW and RS. Local recurrence was more frequent in the WW group (RR, 6.93; P < 0.001), and 78.4% of patients later underwent salvage surgery (R0 resection rate, 97.5%). The 2-year DFS (RR, 1.58; P = 0.05) and 5-year DFS (RR, 2.07; P = 0.02) were higher among RS cases. However, after adjustment for R0 salvage surgery, DFS showed no significant between-group difference (RR, 0.82; P = 0.41). Conclusion Local recurrence rates are higher for WW than RS, but complete salvage surgery is often possible with similar long-term outcomes. WW is a viable strategy for rectal cancer with cCR after neoadjuvant chemoradiation, but further research is required to improve patient selection.

Purpose: We compared the incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) among Asian populations with localized colorectal cancer undergoing curative resection with and without the use of pharmacological thromboprophylaxis (PTP). Methods: A comprehensive literature search was undertaken to identify relevant studies published from January 1, 1980 to February 28, 2022. The inclusion criteria were patients who underwent primary tumor resection for localized nonmetastatic colorectal cancer; an Asian population or studies conducted in an Asian country; randomized controlled trials, case-control studies, or cohort studies; and the incidence of symptomatic VTE, deep vein thrombosis, and/or pulmonary embolism as the primary study outcomes. Data were pooled using a random-effects model. This study was registered in PROSPERO on October 11, 2020 (No. CRD42020206793). Results: Seven studies (2 randomized controlled trials and 5 observational cohort studies) were included, encompassing 5,302 patients. The overall incidence of VTE was 1.4%. The use of PTP did not significantly reduce overall VTE incidence: 1.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0%–3.1%) versus 1.9% (95% CI, 0.3%–4.4%; P = 0.55). Similarly, PTP was not associated with significantly lower rates of symptomatic VTE, proximal deep vein thrombosis, or pulmonary embolism. Conclusion The benefit of PTP in reducing VTE incidence among Asian patients undergoing curative resection for localized colorectal cancer has not been clearly established. The decision to administer PTP should be evaluated on a case-bycase basis and with consideration of associated bleeding risks.

PURPOSE: This study aims to establish the ability of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and anorectal manometry (ARM) in predicting the need for surgery in patients with fecal incontinence (FI).METHODS: Between 2008 and 2015, PROMs data, including the Birmingham Bowel and Urinary Symptoms Questionnaire (BBUSQ), Short Form 36 (SF-36), Wexner Incontinence Score and ARM results, were prospectively collected from 276 patients presenting with FI. Spearman rank was used to assess correlations between specific PROMs questions and ARM assessments of sphincter motor function. Binomial regression analyses were performed to identify factors predictive of the need for surgery. Finally, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to establish the utility of individual ARM and PROMs variables in predicting the need for surgical intervention in patients with FI.RESULTS: Two hundred twenty-eight patients (82.60%) were treated conservatively while 48 (17.39%) underwent surgery. On univariate analyses, all 4 domains of the BBUSQ, all 8 domains of the SF-36, and the Wexner Incontinence Score were significant predictors of surgery. Additionally, maximum resting pressure, 5-second squeeze endurance, threshold volume, and urge volume were significant. On ROC curve analyses, the only significant ARM measurement was the 5-second squeeze endurance. PROMs, such as the incontinence domain of the BBUSQ and five of the SF-36 domains, were identified as fair discriminators of the need for surgery.CONCLUSION: PROMs are reliable predictors of maximal treatment in patients with FI and can be readily used in primary care to aid surgical referrals and can be applied in hospital settings as an aid to guide surgical treatment decisions.
Arm ; Fecal Incontinence ; Humans ; Manometry ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Primary Health Care ; Prospective Studies ; Referral and Consultation ; ROC Curve

Purpose: Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been reported to predict adverse survival outcomes among patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). This study evaluates the prognostic value of NLR among patients with obstructing CRC who successfully underwent stenting before curative surgery. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent stenting before surgery. Patient demographics, tumor characteristics, perioperative outcomes, recurrence-free survival (RFS), and overall survival (OS) were analyzed. NLR was calculated from the differential white blood cell counts at least 4 days after successful stenting, before elective surgery. Optimal cutoff to dichotomize NLR was obtained by maximizing log-rank test statistic with recursive partitioning of KaplanMeier RFS and OS curves. The optimal cutoff for high NLR was ≥ 5 at presentation before stenting, and ≥ 4 after stenting. Results: Fifty-seven patients with localized obstructing CRC underwent successful endoscopic stenting before curative surgery. High NLR was associated with lymphovascular invasion (P = 0.006) and apical lymph node involvement (P = 0.034). Major perioperative complication(s) (hazard ratio [HR], 11.34; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.49 to 51.56; P < 0.01) and high NLR (HR, 3.69; 95% CI, 1.46 to 9.35; P < 0.01) negatively impacted OS on univariate and multivariate analyses. High NLR negatively impacted RFS on univariate analysis (HR, 2.91; 95% CI, 1.29 to 6.60; P = 0.01). Conclusion NLR of ≥ 4 after stenting is an independent prognostic factor among patients with obstructing localized CRC who are successfully decompressed by endoscopic stenting before curative surgery.

Purpose: Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been reported to predict adverse survival outcomes among patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). This study evaluates the prognostic value of NLR among patients with obstructing CRC who successfully underwent stenting before curative surgery. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent stenting before surgery. Patient demographics, tumor characteristics, perioperative outcomes, recurrence-free survival (RFS), and overall survival (OS) were analyzed. NLR was calculated from the differential white blood cell counts at least 4 days after successful stenting, before elective surgery. Optimal cutoff to dichotomize NLR was obtained by maximizing log-rank test statistic with recursive partitioning of KaplanMeier RFS and OS curves. The optimal cutoff for high NLR was ≥ 5 at presentation before stenting, and ≥ 4 after stenting. Results: Fifty-seven patients with localized obstructing CRC underwent successful endoscopic stenting before curative surgery. High NLR was associated with lymphovascular invasion (P = 0.006) and apical lymph node involvement (P = 0.034). Major perioperative complication(s) (hazard ratio [HR], 11.34; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.49 to 51.56; P < 0.01) and high NLR (HR, 3.69; 95% CI, 1.46 to 9.35; P < 0.01) negatively impacted OS on univariate and multivariate analyses. High NLR negatively impacted RFS on univariate analysis (HR, 2.91; 95% CI, 1.29 to 6.60; P = 0.01). Conclusion NLR of ≥ 4 after stenting is an independent prognostic factor among patients with obstructing localized CRC who are successfully decompressed by endoscopic stenting before curative surgery.

Purpose: This study compared the short- and long-term clinical outcomes of laser hemorrhoidoplasty (LH) vs. conventional hemorrhoidectomy (CH) in patients with grade II/III hemorrhoids. Methods: PubMed/Medline and the Cochrane Library were searched for randomized and nonrandomized studies comparing LH against CH in grade II/III hemorrhoids. The primary outcomes included postoperative use of analgesia, postoperative morbidity (bleeding, urinary retention, pain, thrombosis), and time of return to work/daily activities. Results: Nine studies totaling 661 patients (LH, 336 and CH, 325) were included. The LH group had shorter operative time (P<0.001) and less intraoperative blood loss (P<0.001). Postoperative pain was lower in the LH group, with lower postoperative day 1 (mean difference [MD], –2.09; 95% confidence interval [CI], –3.44 to –0.75; P=0.002) and postoperative day 7 (MD, –3.94; 95% CI, –6.36 to –1.52; P=0.001) visual analogue scores and use of analgesia (risk ratio [RR], 0.59; 95% CI, 0.42–0.81; P=0.001). The risk of postoperative bleeding was also lower in the LH group (RR, 0.18; 95% CI, 0.12– 0.28; P<0.001), with a quicker return to work or daily activities (P=0.002). The 12-month risks of bleeding (P>0.999) and prolapse (P=0.240), and the likelihood of complete resolution at 12 months, were similar (P=0.240). Conclusion LH offers more favorable short-term clinical outcomes than CH, with reduced morbidity and pain and earlier return to work or daily activities. Medium-term symptom recurrence at 12 months was similar. Our results should be verified in future well-designed trials with larger samples.

Purpose: Prehabilitation (PH) is purported to improve patients’ preoperative functional status. This systematic review and meta-analysis sought to compare short-term postoperative outcomes between patients who underwent a protocolized PH program and the existing standard of care among colorectal cancer patients awaiting surgery. Methods: A search in MEDLINE/PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Embase, Scopus, and CINAHL was conducted to identify relevant articles. Repetitive and exhaustive combinations of MeSH search terms (“prehabilitation,” “colorectal cancer,” “colon cancer,” and “rectal cancer”) were used to identify randomized and nonrandomized studies comparing PH versus standard of care for colorectal cancer patients awaiting surgery. The primary outcomes included postoperative morbidity, length of hospital stay, and readmission rates. Results: Seven studies including 1,042 colorectal cancer patients (PH, 382) were included. No significant differences were found in intraoperative outcomes. The postoperative complication rates were comparable between groups (Clavien-Dindo grades I and II: risk ratio, 0.82; 95% confidence interval, 0.62–1.07; P=0.15; Clavien-Dindo grades ≥III: risk ratio, 1.02; 95% confidence interval, 0.72–1.44; P=0.92). There were also no significant differences in length of hospital stay (P=0.21) or the risk of 30-day readmission (P=0.68). Conclusion Although PH does not appear to improve short-term postoperative outcomes following colorectal cancer surgery, the quality of evidence is impaired by the limited trials and heterogeneity. Thus, further large-scale trials are warranted to draw definitive conclusions and establish the long-term effects of PH.