Pre-operative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is a preferable treatment option for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. However, few data are available regarding pre-operative CRT for locally advanced colon cancer. Here, we describe two cases of successful treatment with pre-operative CRT and establish evidence supporting this treatment option in patients with locally advanced colon cancer. In the first case, a 65-year-old woman was diagnosed with ascending colon cancer with duodenal invasion. In the second case, a 63-year-old man was diagnosed with a colonic-duodenal fistula due to transverse colon cancer invasion. These case reports will help to establish a treatment consensus for pre-operative CRT in patients with locally advanced colon cancer.
Aged ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Colon ; Colon, Ascending ; Colon, Transverse ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Consensus ; Female ; Fistula ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Rectal Neoplasms

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Early diagnosis of peritoneal metastases in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) can influence patient prognosis. The aim of this study was to identify the clinical significance of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in peritoneal fluid detected during operation in stage I–III CRC patients. METHODS: Between April 2009 and April 2015, we reviewed medical records from a total of 60 stage I–III CRC patients who had peritoneal fluid collected during operation. Patients who had positive cytology in the assessment of peritoneal fluid were excluded. We evaluated the values of CEA in peritoneal fluid (pCEA) to predict the long-term outcomes of these patients using Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression models. RESULTS: The median follow-up duration was 37 months (interquartile range, 21–50 months). On receiver operating characteristic analysis, pCEA had the largest area under the curve (0.793; 95% confidence interval, 0.635–0.950; P=0.001) with an optimal cutoff value of 26.84 (sensitivity, 80.0%; specificity, 76.6%) for predicting recurrence. The recurrence rate was 8.1% in patients with low pCEA ( < 26.84 ng/mL, n=37), and 52.2% in patients with high pCEA (≥26.84 ng/mL, n=23). In multivariate Cox regression analysis, high pCEA (≥26.84 ng/mL) was a risk factor for poor cancer-free survival (CFS) in stage I–III patients. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we determined that high pCEA (≥26.84 ng/mL) detected during operation was helpful for the prediction of poor CFS in patients with stage I–III CRC.
Ascitic Fluid* ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen* ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Early Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Risk Factors ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Common causes of lower gastrointestinal bleeding include diverticular disease, vascular disease, inflammatory bowel disease, neoplasms, and hemorrhoids. Lower gastrointestinal bleeding of appendiceal origin is extremely rare. We report a case of lower gastrointestinal bleeding due to angiodysplasia of the appendix. A 72-year-old man presented with hematochezia. Colonoscopy showed active bleeding from the orifice of the appendix. We performed a laparoscopic appendectomy. Microscopically, dilated veins were found at the submucosal layer of the appendix. The patient was discharged uneventfully. Although lower gastrointestinal bleeding of appendiceal origin is very rare, clinicians should consider it during differential diagnosis.
Aged ; Angiodysplasia* ; Appendectomy ; Appendix* ; Colonoscopy ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage* ; Hemorrhage ; Hemorrhoids ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Lower Gastrointestinal Tract ; Vascular Diseases ; Veins

With advancement of minimal invasive surgery, a simultaneous laparoscopy-assisted resection for colorectal cancer and metastasis has become feasible. Hence, we report three cases of simultaneous laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer with liver or lung metastasis. In the first case, laparoscopic right hemicolectomy and left lateral segmentectomy of liver was performed for ascending colon cancer and liver metastasis. In the second case, laparoscopic right hemicolectomy and wedge resection of right lower lung was performed for cecal cancer and lung metastasis. In the third case, laparoscopic right hemicolectomy and wedge resection of left lower lung was performed for ascending colon cancer and lung metastasis. In the first two cases, patients quickly returned to normal activity. In the third case, postoperative bleeding was observed, but spontaneously stopped. There was no postoperative mortality. Simultaneous laparoscopic surgery represents a feasible option for colorectal cancer with metastases on the other organs.
Cecal Neoplasms ; Colon, Ascending ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Liver ; Lung ; Mastectomy, Segmental ; Mortality ; Neoplasm Metastasis*

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to evaluate feasibility and safety of simultaneous laparoscopy-assisted resection for synchronous colorectal and gastric cancer. METHODS: From January 2001 to December 2013, a total of 29 patients underwent simultaneous resection for synchronous colorectal and gastric cancers. Medical records were reviewed, retrospectively. RESULTS: Eight patients (5 male) underwent laparoscopy-assisted resection (LAP group) and twenty one patients (17 male) underwent open surgery (Open group). In the both group, the mean age (65.2 vs. 63.7 years, p =0.481), body mass index (22.6 vs. 22.3, p = 0.896) was comparable, respectively. In LAP group, laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy was performed for all eight patients. In Open group, subtotal gastrectomy with billroth I gastroduodenostomy was most common procedure (66.7%). The operation time, blood loss volume was similar between the two groups. Gas out was earlier (3.0 vs. 4.6 days p = 0.106), postoperative hospital stay was shorter (12.0 vs. 18.3 days, p = 0.245) in LAP group. The postoperative complications were an ileus, a wound seroma and a bile leakage in LAP group, pneumonia (10.0%), wound bleeding (5.0%) and leakage (5.0%) in Open group. CONCLUSIONS: The simultaneous laparoscopy-assisted resection for synchronous colorectal cancer and gastric cancer is a feasible and safe procedure.
Bile ; Body Mass Index ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Gastrectomy ; Gastroenterostomy ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Ileus ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Medical Records ; Pneumonia ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Seroma ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Wounds and Injuries

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Laparoscopic surgery has been proven to be an effective alternative to open surgery in patients with colon cancer. However, data on laparoscopic surgery in patients with rectal cancer are insufficient. The aim of this study was to compare the long-term outcomes of laparoscopic and open surgery in patients with rectal cancer. METHODS: A total of 307 patients with rectal cancer who were treated by open and laparoscopic curative resection at Kosin University Gospel Hospital (Busan, Korea) between January 2002 and December 2011 were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Regarding treatment, 176 patients underwent an open procedure and 131 patients underwent a laparoscopic procedure. The local recurrence rate after laparoscopic resection was 2.3%, compared with 5.7% after open resection (p=0.088). Distant metastases occurred in 6.9% of the laparoscopic surgery group, compared with 24.4% in the open surgery group (p<0.001). In univariate analysis, age (> or =75 years vs. < or =60 years), preoperative staging, surgical approach (open vs. laparoscopic), elevated initial CEA level, elevated follow-up CEA level, number of positive lymph nodes, and postoperative chemotherapy affected overall survival and disease free survival. However, in multivariate analysis, the surgical approach apparently did not affect long-term oncologic outcome. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, long-term outcomes after laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer were not inferior to those after open surgery. Therefore, laparoscopic surgery would be an alternative operative tool to open resection for rectal cancer, although further investigation is needed.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; *Laparoscopy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Neoplasm Staging ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Rectal Neoplasms/mortality/*surgery/therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome

Single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) has become popular due to the advantage of minimizing surgical. We report on two cases of simultaneous appendectomy and cholecystectomy using a single-incision laparoscopic technique. The patients were 49- and 50-year old females diagnosed with acute appendicitis with concomitant cholelithiasis. Body mass indices of the patients were 22.3 and 26.0. A 3 cm abdominal incision was made via the umbilicus, and a single port platform was created using a small wound retractor (ALEXIS(R) wound retractor S, Applied Medical, Santa Margarita, CA, USA) and a surgical glove. Cholecystectomy was performed first, followed by the appendectomy. The operation times were 165 and 280 minutes, and blood loss was 50 and 150 cc, respectively. The postoperative hospital stays were five and seven days, and one patient had a wound seroma as a surgical complication. We believe that SILS for simultaneous appendectomy and cholecystectomy is a feasible and safe minimally invasive procedure.
Appendectomy* ; Appendicitis ; Cholecystectomy* ; Cholelithiasis ; Female ; Gloves, Surgical ; Humans ; Laparoscopy* ; Length of Stay ; Seroma ; Umbilicus ; Wounds and Injuries

Single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) has become popular due to the advantage of minimizing surgical. We report on two cases of simultaneous appendectomy and cholecystectomy using a single-incision laparoscopic technique. The patients were 49- and 50-year old females diagnosed with acute appendicitis with concomitant cholelithiasis. Body mass indices of the patients were 22.3 and 26.0. A 3 cm abdominal incision was made via the umbilicus, and a single port platform was created using a small wound retractor (ALEXIS(R) wound retractor S, Applied Medical, Santa Margarita, CA, USA) and a surgical glove. Cholecystectomy was performed first, followed by the appendectomy. The operation times were 165 and 280 minutes, and blood loss was 50 and 150 cc, respectively. The postoperative hospital stays were five and seven days, and one patient had a wound seroma as a surgical complication. We believe that SILS for simultaneous appendectomy and cholecystectomy is a feasible and safe minimally invasive procedure.
Appendectomy* ; Appendicitis ; Cholecystectomy* ; Cholelithiasis ; Female ; Gloves, Surgical ; Humans ; Laparoscopy* ; Length of Stay ; Seroma ; Umbilicus ; Wounds and Injuries

PURPOSE: This study was done to explore communication between nurses during preceptorship. METHODS: A qualitative study, using content analysis was conducted. Semistructured interviews were held with 10 nurses working in urban hospitals. RESULTS: A total of 226 significant statements were selected from the data and classified into 4 categories and 23 subcategories. Communication experiences of new nurses' own performance were responses to reproach - acceptance and apology, and unresponsiveness due to feeling small and uncomfortable; responses to questions - misanswer; responses to directions - unconditional acceptance. Communication experiences of new nurses' performance by nurse preceptors were kindness, stigmatization, talking behind one's back, criticism and reproach, impolite words, and emotional expression. Communication experiences of nurse preceptors's own performance were directives, sympathy, reproach, unkindness, authoritative strictness, and nonverbal expression: being cold, and lessening of tension. Communication experiences of nurse preceptors' performance by new nurses were response to criticism - recognition and apology for mistakes, evasion of responsibility, and excuses; responses to explanations-active acceptance, and difficulty with communication due to lack of comprehension. CONCLUSION: These results provide deep understanding of nurses' communication during preceptorship and should help in developing comprehensive education programs for preceptor nurses and new nurses.
Comprehension ; Education ; Hospitals, Urban ; Preceptorship* ; Qualitative Research ; Stereotyping

OBJECTIVE: In June 28, 2012, a 'Hospitalization guideline for car accident patients' was announced to mediate the clash of opinions about the hospitalization of minor head trauma patients among doctors, patients and insurance companies. The guideline was issued to describe the patients' symptoms and emotions in detail after the injury. In this paper, evaluation for the guideline and suggestions for modifications was done. METHODS: Thirty-two doctors, 96 patients and 60 employees were each given surveys about the hospitalization guidelines, related personnels' attitude and evaluation of patients' emotional problems. The frequency, ratio and chi-square test were performed. RESULTS: Sixty-eight point eight percent of doctors, 79.8% patients and 91.6% insurance company employees agreed to the need for a guideline. Among the 68.8% doctors that supported the need for a guideline, 18.8% knew that the guideline actually existed. Sixty-nine point two percent of doctors said that they would apply the guideline once they were introduced to it. Among the announced guideline provisions, 'Glasgow coma score less than 15' and 'socially not suitable for discharge' required reevaluation since 40.6% all surveyors consented that these two criteria were not suitable. The consensus supporting the need for emotional evaluation came out to be 78.1%, 58.5%, 50.9% in doctors, patients and insurance employees respectively. CONCLUSION: Although a guideline for hospitalization of minor head injury patients is necessary, some part of it seems to be reevaluated and improved, especially for clauses related to the patient's emotional problems. These changes and revisions to the guideline require further speculation and research.
Coma ; Consensus ; Craniocerebral Trauma* ; Hospitalization* ; Humans ; Insurance ; Patient Admission