Rectal cancer, which accounts for approximately 40% of colorectal cancers, remains a major clinical concern. Recent advances in diagnostic imaging, surgical techniques, radiotherapy, and systemic treatment have steadily improved rectal cancer outcomes. Considering this, the Korean Rectal Cancer Multidisciplinary (KRCM) Committee has aimed to provide clinicians and policymakers with up-to-date, evidence-based clinical practice guidelines to support optimal decision-making, reflecting current evidence, the Korean healthcare context, and patient values and preferences. The Clinical Practice Guidelines for Rectal Cancer version 2.0 were developed through multidisciplinary collaboration with related academic societies, building upon and updating the KRCM Clinical Practice Guidelines version 1.0 (titled “Multidisciplinary guidelines for the management of rectal cancer”). These consensus guidelines of the KRCM were established based on a comprehensive literature review, evidence synthesis, with recommendation development guided by the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) methodology, and consideration of applicability in real-world clinical practice under the national health insurance system. Each recommendation has been presented with its strength and level of evidence.

The Korean Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Committee within the Korean Society of Surgical Metabolism and Nutrition was established to develop ERAS guidelines tailored to the Korean context. This guideline focuses on creating the most current evidence-based practice guidelines for ERAS purposes, based on systematic reviews. All key questions targeted randomized controlled trials exclusively, and if fewer than 2 were available, studies employing propensity score matching were also included. Recommendations for each key question were marked with strength of recommendation and level of evidence following internal and external review processes by the committee.

The Korean Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Committee within the Korean Society of Surgical Metabolism and Nutrition was established to develop ERAS guidelines tailored to the Korean context. This guideline focuses on creating the most current evidence-based practice guidelines for ERAS purposes, based on systematic reviews. All key questions targeted randomized controlled trials exclusively, and if fewer than 2 were available, studies employing propensity score matching were also included. Recommendations for each key question were marked with strength of recommendation and level of evidence following internal and external review processes by the committee.

The Korean Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Committee within the Korean Society of Surgical Metabolism and Nutrition was established to develop ERAS guidelines tailored to the Korean context. This guideline focuses on creating the most current evidence-based practice guidelines for ERAS purposes, based on systematic reviews. All key questions targeted randomized controlled trials exclusively, and if fewer than 2 were available, studies employing propensity score matching were also included. Recommendations for each key question were marked with strength of recommendation and level of evidence following internal and external review processes by the committee.

The Korean Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Committee within the Korean Society of Surgical Metabolism and Nutrition was established to develop ERAS guidelines tailored to the Korean context. This guideline focuses on creating the most current evidence-based practice guidelines for ERAS purposes, based on systematic reviews. All key questions targeted randomized controlled trials exclusively, and if fewer than 2 were available, studies employing propensity score matching were also included. Recommendations for each key question were marked with strength of recommendation and level of evidence following internal and external review processes by the committee.

The Korean Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Committee within the Korean Society of Surgical Metabolism and Nutrition was established to develop ERAS guidelines tailored to the Korean context. This guideline focuses on creating the most current evidence-based practice guidelines for ERAS purposes, based on systematic reviews. All key questions targeted randomized controlled trials exclusively, and if fewer than 2 were available, studies employing propensity score matching were also included. Recommendations for each key question were marked with strength of recommendation and level of evidence following internal and external review processes by the committee.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the obstetric and perinatal outcomes of singleton deliveries following frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles using different endometrial preparation methods. Methods: We analyzed data on 44,118 singleton pregnant women who underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), resulting in delivery or abortion, from the South Korean National Health Insurance Service database. Stratification was based on the type of embryo transfer, viz. fresh embryo transfer and FET cycles, using International Classification of Diseases (Tenth Revision) diagnostic codes, national procedural codes, and prescription medication data within the IVF/ICSI pregnancy cohort. FET was subcategorized into artificial cycle-FET (AC-FET), natural cycle-FET (NC-FET), and stimulated cycle-FET (SC-FET) for comparative analyses of the pregnancy, obstetric, and perinatal outcomes. Results: AC-FET was associated with higher risks of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, preeclampsia, placenta accreta, and postpartum hemorrhage compared with NC-FET; the risk of macrosomia showed no significant differences. SC-FET was associated with a lower risk of miscarriage and higher rate of term birth beyond 37 weeks compared with NCFET. However, SC-FET was associated with elevated risks of gestational hypertension and postpartum hemorrhage when compared to NC-FET. Conclusion The rate of adverse obstetric and perinatal outcomes was higher in AC-FET compared to NC-FET, highlighting NC-FET as a valuable option owing to better maternal and fetal safety. In cases where NC-FET is not feasible, SC-FET presented as a favorable alternative, exhibiting lower miscarriage rates than NC-FET and better obstetric outcomes than AC-FET.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the obstetric and perinatal outcomes of singleton deliveries following frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles using different endometrial preparation methods. Methods: We analyzed data on 44,118 singleton pregnant women who underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), resulting in delivery or abortion, from the South Korean National Health Insurance Service database. Stratification was based on the type of embryo transfer, viz. fresh embryo transfer and FET cycles, using International Classification of Diseases (Tenth Revision) diagnostic codes, national procedural codes, and prescription medication data within the IVF/ICSI pregnancy cohort. FET was subcategorized into artificial cycle-FET (AC-FET), natural cycle-FET (NC-FET), and stimulated cycle-FET (SC-FET) for comparative analyses of the pregnancy, obstetric, and perinatal outcomes. Results: AC-FET was associated with higher risks of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, preeclampsia, placenta accreta, and postpartum hemorrhage compared with NC-FET; the risk of macrosomia showed no significant differences. SC-FET was associated with a lower risk of miscarriage and higher rate of term birth beyond 37 weeks compared with NCFET. However, SC-FET was associated with elevated risks of gestational hypertension and postpartum hemorrhage when compared to NC-FET. Conclusion The rate of adverse obstetric and perinatal outcomes was higher in AC-FET compared to NC-FET, highlighting NC-FET as a valuable option owing to better maternal and fetal safety. In cases where NC-FET is not feasible, SC-FET presented as a favorable alternative, exhibiting lower miscarriage rates than NC-FET and better obstetric outcomes than AC-FET.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the obstetric and perinatal outcomes of singleton deliveries following frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles using different endometrial preparation methods. Methods: We analyzed data on 44,118 singleton pregnant women who underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), resulting in delivery or abortion, from the South Korean National Health Insurance Service database. Stratification was based on the type of embryo transfer, viz. fresh embryo transfer and FET cycles, using International Classification of Diseases (Tenth Revision) diagnostic codes, national procedural codes, and prescription medication data within the IVF/ICSI pregnancy cohort. FET was subcategorized into artificial cycle-FET (AC-FET), natural cycle-FET (NC-FET), and stimulated cycle-FET (SC-FET) for comparative analyses of the pregnancy, obstetric, and perinatal outcomes. Results: AC-FET was associated with higher risks of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, preeclampsia, placenta accreta, and postpartum hemorrhage compared with NC-FET; the risk of macrosomia showed no significant differences. SC-FET was associated with a lower risk of miscarriage and higher rate of term birth beyond 37 weeks compared with NCFET. However, SC-FET was associated with elevated risks of gestational hypertension and postpartum hemorrhage when compared to NC-FET. Conclusion The rate of adverse obstetric and perinatal outcomes was higher in AC-FET compared to NC-FET, highlighting NC-FET as a valuable option owing to better maternal and fetal safety. In cases where NC-FET is not feasible, SC-FET presented as a favorable alternative, exhibiting lower miscarriage rates than NC-FET and better obstetric outcomes than AC-FET.

Purpose: This study investigated the efficacy of intravesical gemcitabine as an alternative to bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) therapy. Materials and Methods: Data were retrospectively collected across seven institutions from February 1999 to May 2023. Inclusion criteria included patients with intermediate- or high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) who underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumors (TURBT) and received at least four sessions of intravesical gemcitabine or BCG induction therapy. Patient characteristics, complete remission (CR), occurrence, and progression rates were compared. Results: In total, 149 patients were included in this study (gemcitabine, 63; BCG, 86). No differences were apparent between the two groups in baseline characteristics, except for the follow-up period (gemcitabine, 9.2±5.9 months vs. BCG, 43.9±41.4 months, p<0.001). There were no consistent significant differences observed between the two groups in the 3-month (gemcitabine, 98.4% vs. BCG, 95.3%; p=0.848), 6-month (94.9% vs. 90.0%, respectively; p=0.793) and 1-year CR rates (84.2% vs. 83.3%, respectively;p=0.950). Also, there was no significant statistical difference in progression-free survival between the two groups (p=0.953). The occurrence rates of adverse events were similar between the groups (22.2% vs. 22.1%; p=0.989); however, the rate of Clavien– Dindo grade 2 or higher was significantly higher in the BCG group (1.6% vs. 16.3%, respectively; p<0.001). Conclusions Intravesical gemcitabine demonstrated efficacy comparable to BCG therapy for the first year in patients with intermediate- and high-risk NMIBC. However, long-term follow-up studies are warranted.