Intersphincteric resection (ISR) has been performed as an ultimate sphincter-sparing strategy in selected patients with low rectal cancer. Accumulating evidence suggests that ISR may be an interesting alternative to abdominoperineal resection to avoid a permanent stoma without compromising oncological outcomes. However, bowel dysfunction is a most common consequence of ISR not to be neglected. To date, limited clinical research has reported functional and quality of life outcomes according to patient-reported outcome measures. Also, data concerning management of low anterior resection syndrome are scarce due to lack of quality evidence. Therefore, this review provides an up-to-date summary of systematic assessment (including function, quality of life, manometry and morphology) and bowel rehabilitation for ISR patients. Postoperative anal function is often assessed by a combination of scales, including the Incontinence Assessment Scale, the Gastrointestinal Function Questionnaire, the Specific LARS Assessment Scale and the Faecal Diary. The condition-specific Quality of Life Scale is more appropriate for Quality-of-life measures in fecal incontinence after ISR. Patients' physiological function after ISR can be assessed using water- or high-resolution solid-state anorectal manometry. Anatomical and morphological changes can be assessed using defecography and 3D endorectal ultrasound. Electrical stimulation and biofeedback, pelvic floor exercises, rectal balloon training, transanal irrigation and sacral neuromodulation are all options for post-operative rehabilitation.
Humans ; Rectal Neoplasms/surgery* ; Postoperative Complications ; Anal Canal/surgery* ; Quality of Life ; Organ Sparing Treatments ; Fecal Incontinence

Adrenal gland trauma is a rare phenomenon, due to the small size and retroperitoneal location of the organ. The majority of adrenal gland trauma is due to blunt force injury and is only rarely encountered due to the penetrating mechanisms. A 20-year-old male sustained a gunshot wound to the left abdomen. Upon exploration, he was found to have a through and through injury to the left adrenal gland, among other injuries. Injury to the adrenal gland due to penetrating trauma is exceptionally rare. The principles of management are to control bleeding from the gland with debridement and hemostasis rather than attempt to resect the entire organ. The management of a penetrating injury to the adrenal gland is straightforward and should not be a contributor to a patient's morbidity or mortality.
Adrenal Glands ; diagnostic imaging ; injuries ; Adult ; Debridement ; Hemorrhage ; etiology ; therapy ; Hemostasis, Surgical ; Humans ; Laparotomy ; Male ; Multiple Trauma ; therapy ; Organ Sparing Treatments ; methods ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome ; Wounds, Gunshot ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the effects and pregnancy outcomes of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH agonist) combined with aromatase inhibitor (AI) in preserving the fertility of obese women with grade 1 endometrial cancer (EC). METHODS: This study recruited obese EC patients who wished to preserve their fertility. The treatment regimen consisted of intramuscular GnRH agonist 3.75 mg every 4 weeks and oral AI 2.5 mg daily. The maintenance regimen was the same as the initial treatment regimen. Primary outcomes included response rate, time to complete response (CR), and time to recurrence; pregnancy outcomes included the time to pregnancy, pregnancy rate and live birth rate. RESULTS: Six obese patients with EC were included in this study, with the age (mean±standard deviation [SD]) of 30.5±3.3 years and body mass index (mean±SD) of 35.0±1.4 kg/m2. CR rate was 100%, and time to CR was 3–6 months. None of the patients had recurrence after a median follow-up of 4.0 years (range, 1.3–7.0 years). The most common side effects were menopause-like symptoms. Among these patients, no weight gain was observed during treatment. The pregnancy rate and live birth rate was 50.0% and 75.0%, respectively, with a median time to pregnancy of 2.4 years (range, 1.0–5.5 years). CONCLUSION: The combination of GnRH agonist and AI demonstrated promising long-term effect in young obese EC patients who wished to preserve their fertility. No weight gain side effects were observed. Further studies with a larger sample size are needed to fully evaluate this novel treatment regimen.
Aromatase Inhibitors ; Aromatase ; Body Mass Index ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; Female ; Fertility ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Humans ; Live Birth ; Obesity ; Organ Sparing Treatments ; Pilot Projects ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy Rate ; Recurrence ; Sample Size ; Time-to-Pregnancy ; Weight Gain

This study was performed to evaluate the oncological and reproductive outcomes of childbearing-age women treated with fertility-sparing surgery (FSS) for non-epithelial ovarian tumors in China. One hundred and forty eight non-epithelial ovarian tumor women treated with FSS between January 1, 2000 and August 31, 2015 from two medical centers in China were identified. Progression-free survival (PFS) was 88.5%, whereas overall survival (OS) was 93.9%. Univariate analysis suggested that delivery after treatment is related to PFS (P = 0.023), whereas histology significantly influenced OS. Cox regression analysis suggested that only histology was associated with PFS and OS (P < 0.05). Among the 129 women who completed adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT), none developed amenorrhea. Among the 44 women who desired pregnancy, 35 (79.5%) successfully had 51 gestations including 35 live births without birth defects. Non-epithelial ovarian tumors can achieve fulfilling prognosis after FSS and chemotherapy. Histology might be the only independent prognostic factor for PFS and OS. FSS followed by ACT appeared to have little or no effect on fertility. Meanwhile, postoperative pregnancy did not increase the PFS or OS. Use of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist was not beneficial for fertility.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; adverse effects ; Child ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility, Female ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Neoplasm Staging ; Organ Sparing Treatments ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; surgery ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Analysis ; Young Adult

Objective: To explore the strategies of preserving urinary continence in transurethral plasmakinetic enucleation of the prostate (PKEP) for benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). METHODS: We treated 65 BPH patients by PKEP with preservation of urinary continence (UC-PKEP), which involved protection of the external urethral sphincter in the beginning of surgery, proper preservation of the anterior lobe of the prostate to protect the internal urethral sphincter in the middle, and preservation of the integrity of the bladder neck towards the end. We compared the postoperative status of urinary continence of the patients with that of the 54 BPH cases treated by complete plasmakinetic enucleation of the prostate (Com-PKEP). RESULTS: All the operations were performed successfully with the urinary catheters removed at 5 days after surgery. In comparison with Com-PKEP, UC-PKEP achieved evidently lower incidence rates of urinary incontinence at 24 hours (31.49% vs 13.85%, P <0.05), 1 week (18.52% vs 4.62%, P <0.05), 2 weeks (14.81% vs 3.08%, P <0.05), 1 month (3.70% vs 1.54%, P >0.05), and 3 months (3.70% vs 0%, P >0.05) after catheter removal. Compared with the baseline, the maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) was significantly improved postoperatively in both the Com-PKEP (［7.43 ± 3.26］ vs ［20.58 ± 3.22］ ml, P <0.05) and the UC-PKEP group (［8.04 ± 2.28］ vs ［20.66 ± 3.08］ ml, P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS Transurethral PKEP is a safe and effective method for the management of BPH, during which the strategies of avoiding blunt or sharp damage to the external urethral sphincter in the beginning, properly preserving the anterior lobe of the prostate in the middle and preserving the integrity of the bladder neck towards the end may help to achieve rapid recovery of urinary continence.
Humans ; Male ; Organ Sparing Treatments ; methods ; Postoperative Period ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; surgery ; Quality of Life ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate ; adverse effects ; methods ; Treatment Outcome ; Urethra ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Catheterization ; Urinary Incontinence ; prevention & control

Microsurgical longitudinal intussusception vasoepididymostomy (LIVE) has been widely used to treat epididymal obstructive azoospermia since 2004. Although the deferential vasculature plays an important role in supplying blood to the testis and epididymis, little attention has been paid to the potential benefits of sparing the deferential vessels during the anastomosis in LIVE. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of deferential vessel-sparing LIVE in humans. From December 2013 to December 2015, 69 azoospermic men with epididymal obstruction due to a genital infection, trauma, or idiopathic factors underwent deferential vessel-sparing LIVE in the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China. The outcomes of these patients were analyzed retrospectively. The mean age was 31.1 years for men and 28.3 years for their partners. Fifty-nine (85.5%, 59/69) men were followed up after surgery for approximately 16 months. Patency was noted and confirmed by semen analysis (>10 000 sperm/ml) in 83.1% (49/59) of men. The natural pregnancy rate was 40.7% (24/59) by the end of the study, with 87.5% (21/24) of these natural pregnancies achieved within 12 months after surgery. No severe adverse events or complications were observed. In this study, we present a novel technique for sparing the deferential vessels during LIVE. The preliminary outcomes show this technique to be safe with favorable patency and pregnancy rates.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Azoospermia/surgery* ; Epididymis/surgery* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Organ Sparing Treatments/methods* ; Postoperative Complications/epidemiology* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Retrospective Studies ; Semen Analysis ; Testis/surgery* ; Treatment Outcome ; Urogenital Surgical Procedures/methods* ; Vas Deferens/surgery* ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the therapeutic effects, larynx preservation and adverse events of non-surgical combined treatments for laryngeal organ preservation in locally advanced laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas(SCCs).

METHODSForty-six patients with locally advanced laryngeal carcinoma (T2-4, N0-N3) were treated individually with non-surgical combined treatments for larynx preservation (LP). These treatments included concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT)(±epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor), induction chemotherapy (ICT) followed by CCRT(± EGFR inhibitor), or concurrent radiotherapy and EGFR inhibitor. Radiation therapy was given to a total dose of 60-70 Gy. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to determine the overall survival. Side-effects were evaluated with the established Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 3.0 criteria.

RESULTSThe average follow-up time was 31.8 months (range 6-95 months). All patients completed the planned radiotherapy without treatment breaks, and 45(97.8%) of 46 patients completed the planned chemotherapy.The 3-year and 5-year overall survival rates were 87.3%and 67.2%, respectively.The 5-year larynx preservation rate was 100.0%. The 3-year and 5-year progression free survival rates were 95.1% and 87.7%, respectively. The most common acute side effect in grade 3 was oropharyngeal mucositis. After treatment, tracheotomy was still required in 2 patients with glottis cancer for laryngeal edema or stenosis. No patient depended on a percutaneous gastrostomy and experienced speech impairment.

CONCLUSIONPatients with locally advanced laryngeal cancer can be offered non-surgical combined treatments for laryngeal preservation and the high quality of life, showing a higher laryngeal preservation survival rate with minimal toxicities.

Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; drug therapy ; radiotherapy ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Disease-Free Survival ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; radiotherapy ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; radiotherapy ; Larynx ; Organ Sparing Treatments ; Quality of Life ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo explore the risk factors and clinical features of delayed anastomotic fistula (DAF) following sphincter-preserving operation for rectal cancer.

METHODSClinical data of 1 594 patients with rectal cancer undergoing sphincter-preserving operation in our department from January 2008 to May 2015 based on the prospective database of Dpartment of Colorectal Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Sixty patients(3.8%) developed anastomotic fistula. Forty-one patients (2.6%) developed early anastomotic fistula (EAF) within 30 days after surgery while 19(1.2%) were DAF that occurred beyond 30 days. Univariate analyses were performed to compare the clinical features between EAF and DAF group.

RESULTSDAF was diagnosed at a median time of 194(30-327) days after anastomosis. As compared to EAF group, DAF group had lower tumor site [(6.1±2.3) cm vs. (7.8±2.8) cm, P=0.023], lower anastomosis site [(3.6±1.8) cm vs. (4.8±1.6) cm, P=0.008], higher ratio of patients receiving neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (84.2% vs. 34.1%, P=0.000), and receiving preventive stoma (73.7% vs. 14.6%, P=0.000). According to ISREC grading system for anastomotic fistula, DAF patients were grade A and B, while EAF cases were grade B and C(P=0.000). During the first hospital stay for anastomosis, DAF group did not have abdominal pain, general malaise, drainage abnormalities, peritonitis but 8 cases(42.1%) had fever more than 38centi-degree. In EAF group, 29 patients(70.7%) had abdominal pain and general malaise, and 29(70.7%) had drainage abnormalities. General or circumscribed peritonitis were developed in 25(61.0%) EAF patients, and fever occurred in 39(95.1%) EAF cases. There were 13(68.4%) cases with sinus or fistula formation and 9(47.4%) with rectovaginal fistula in DAF group, in contrast to 5 (12.2%) and 5 (12.2%) in EAF group respectively. In DAF group, 5 (26.3%) patients received follow-up due to stoma (no closure), 5 (26.3%) received bedside surgical drainage, while 9(47.4%) patients underwent operation, including diverting stoma in 3 patients, Hartmann procedure in 1 case, intersphincteric resection, coloanal anastomosis plus ileostomy in 1case because of pelvic fibrosis and stenosis of neorectum after radiotherapy, mucosal advancement flap repair with a cellular matrix interposition in 3 rectovaginal fistula cases, incision of sinus via the anus in 1 case. During a median follow-up of 28 months, 14(73.7%) DAF patients were cured.

CONCLUSIONSIt is advisable to be cautious that patients with lower site of tumor and anastomosis, neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and preventive stoma are at risk of DAF. DAF is clinically silent and most patients can be cured by effective surgical treatment.

Anal Canal ; Anastomosis, Surgical ; Anastomotic Leak ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Colostomy ; Digestive System Surgical Procedures ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Ileostomy ; Length of Stay ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Organ Sparing Treatments ; Postoperative Complications ; diagnosis ; Rectal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Rectovaginal Fistula ; Rectum ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Surgical Flaps ; Surgical Stomas ; Treatment Outcome

Surgical treatment for rectal cancer has changed radically in recent years since the introduction of the principle of total mesorectal excision (TME) and technique of laparoscopic approach. The emphasis of management for vessels in laparoscopic TME surgery for rectal cancer is mainly focused on the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) and its branches. Two alternatives of the level to execute the IMA are high ligation(without preservation of left colic artery, LCA) and low ligation (with preservation of LCA). In this article, we review the latest literature from China and foreign countries concerning this issue, and combine with our own experience to investigate the effect of LCA preserving on anastomotic leakage and operation time, which may provide a reference for proper choice of the management of IMA in rectal cancer surgery.
Anastomotic Leak ; prevention & control ; China ; Digestive System Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Ligation ; Mesenteric Artery, Inferior ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; Operative Time ; Organ Sparing Treatments ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Rectal Neoplasms ; surgery

Because of the improvement of surgical technique and the widely use of multimodality therapy, more patients with rectal cancer undergo sphincter-preserving surgery. However, it has been reported that up to 90% of such patients will suffer from bowel dysfunction, ranging from increased bowel frequency to faecal incontinence or evacuatory dysfunction. This wide spectrum of symptoms after resection of the rectum has been termed anterior resection syndrome (ARS). This disordered bowel function has a substantial negative effect on quality of life, however, the causal mechanisms have not been clarified. The present review discusses the clinical manifestation, underlying mechanisms, as well as prevention and treatment strategies.
Combined Modality Therapy ; Digestive System Surgical Procedures ; adverse effects ; Fecal Incontinence ; Humans ; Organ Sparing Treatments ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; therapy ; Quality of Life ; Rectal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Rectum ; physiopathology